Barragan 1

Eric Barragan
Ms. Oberg
Language Arts 11
25 November 2014
Foreshadowing and Symbolism in Young Goodman Brown
A rhetorical device is a use of language that is intended to have an effect on its audience.
Rhetorical devices are used in dialogue, music, film, literature, etc. To use rhetoric strategy is to
coax those around you to feel and understand as you are. These devices are abundant in
literature, and help readers understand the text better. In the short story Young Goodman Brown,
written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the author uses symbolism and foreshadowing to enhance the
comprehension of the reader.
Foreshadowing is to give a suggestion or to hint at something that hasnt yet occurred in
the story. Hawthorne uses this rhetorical device at the beginning of his story when Goodman
Brown says to himself after departing from his wife Faith, Methought as she spoke there was
trouble in her face, as if a dream had warned her what work is to be done tonight. (Hawthorne
7). At this point in the story, the reader only knows the protagonist is leaving on possibly an
unsafe journey, but we (as in the readers) dont know exactly what work will be done tonight
other than the unknown work Goodman Brown is going to do. This is a strong piece of
foreshadowing because a significant part of the story is the work done. Later in the story,
Goodman Brown meets up with the Devil and has a strange encounter with a witch. The witch
states they tell me there is a nice young man to be taken into communion to-night.
(Hawthorne 34). Then, soon after, Goodman Brown overhears his minister and deacon in the
woods speaking about a goodly young woman to be taken into communion. (Hawthorne 44)
The first quote mentioning the young man is Goodman Brown. In addition to the story, a

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reoccurring topic/character in the story is Faith, his wife, who is the goodly woman. This
evidence of foreshadowing presents that the communion that night will be for them both, which
Goodman Brown isnt aware of.
Hawthorne uses the rhetorical device of symbolism in his story to convey characteristics
of sin in his story. Goodman Browns wife, Faith, represents his faith in Christianity and his
departing of her and his experiences symbolize the journey of sin. First, at the beginning he
states, of all nights in the year, this one night I must tarry away from thee dost thou doubt me
already, and we but three months married? (Hawthorne 3). This exchange of dialogue represents
that he, Goodman Brown, has been faithful to his religion for some time, and can handle
choosing sin this one time. After he departs from his wife the author writes he looked back and
saw the head of Faith still peeping after him with a melancholy air (Hawthorne 6). His faith,
in a personified form, knows that turning to sin will do Goodman Brown no good and is
disappointed to watch a good man leave the faith of Christianity. As Goodman Brown walks
away he yells Poor little Faith! What a wretch am I to leave her on such an errand! (Hawthorne
7). The main character realizes his mistake, but intentionally decides to rebel against the church.
Hawthorne writes about his character that With his excellent resolve for the future, Goodman
Brown felt himself justified in making more haste on his present evil purpose. He had taken a
dreary road It was all as lonely as could bethe traveler knows not who may be concealed by
the innumerable trunks and the thick boughs overhead he may yet be passing through an
unseen multitude. (Hawthorne 8). The path of sin he chose is dark, lonely, and uncertain.
Innumerable amounts of challenges and thick, heavy burdens are part of this path hence the
dense, dark forest. Goodman Brown then encounters the devil who says to him Faith kept me
back a while, symbolizing that his belief made him hesitant to sin but he did anyways
(Hawthorne 12). In later dialogue the devil says to Goodman Brown this is a dull pace for the

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beginning of a journey. Take my staff, if you are so soon weary. (Hawthorne 14). At this point
Goodman Brown has already left his faith, walked through the beginning of the path of sin and
has now met the devil, who wishes to move faster along this path. But Goodman declares
having kept my covenant by meeting thee here, it is my purpose now to return whence I came.
(Hawthorne 15). Still thinking he can turn around whenever he wants and abandon his evil ways
Goodman Brown tells the Devil he needs to go back to where he came from, where his faith is.
The devil cunningly replies Let us walk on, nevertheless, reasoning as we go; and if I convince
thee not thou shalt turn back. We are but a little way in the forest yet. (Hawthorne 16). The
Devil is tempting Goodman Brown to further walk on the path of sin, for he teases he isnt that
deep into the woods, or into iniquity, and if he doesnt suit Goodman Brown he can turn around.
Goodman Brown is now at a point of no return. Hawthorne writes Too far! Too far! exclaimed
the good man, unconsciously resuming his walk. (Hawthorne 17). Goodman Brown realizes he
is now in trouble and decides to stop moving forward along this path, but cannot turn around. He
is now is in a spiritual stupor, which is what the Devil wants mankind to be in. This symbolism
of the journey of sin throughout the story helps readers understand how Satan, a character in the
story, is. In addition the symbolism helps readers understand how the story makes sense.
Rhetorical analysis can be used to help readers comprehend literature. In Young
Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the author uses foreshadowing to help hint at future
events such as the climax of the story, the communion, and uses symbolism of sin to give hints
on how the antagonists of the story are.

Works Cited
Hathorne, Nathaniel. Young Goodman Brown. 1835