Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent ideas. In Young Goodman Brown symbolism is used multiple times. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses symbolism in his short story “Young Goodman Brown” through the pink ribbons, the staff, and Faith.
Pink Ribbons
The Pink Ribbons that are in Faith’s hat represent her purity because pink comes across as innocent. When the pink ribbons fall out of the sky, Goodman Brown saw it that Faith had fallen into the hands of the devil. At the end of the story when Faith goes to greet Goodman when he comes back from the forest she is wearing pink ribbons again that symbolizes her return to Christianity and goodness.
The Staff
The staff symbolizes a demon. The staff shows that the old man is more of a demon than he is
Pink Ribbons
The Pink Ribbons that are in Faith’s hat represent her purity because pink comes across as innocent. When the pink ribbons fall out of the sky, Goodman Brown saw it that Faith had fallen into the hands of the devil. At the end of the story when Faith goes to greet Goodman when he comes back from the forest she is wearing pink ribbons again that symbolizes her return to Christianity and goodness.
The Staff
The staff symbolizes a demon. The staff shows that the old man is more of a demon than he is