Question

You’ve learned that an allegory is a fictional narrative in which the literal story has another parallel, deeper meaning. Read the following excerpt from Hawthorne’s short story "Young Goodman Brown." Analyze and explain the allegory used in the story.
And there they stood, the only pair, as it seemed, who were yet hesitating on the verge of wickedness in this dark world. A basin was hollowed, naturally, in the rock. Did it contain water, reddened by the lurid light? or was it blood? or, perchance, a liquid flame? Herein did the shape of evil dip his hand and prepare to lay the mark of baptism upon their foreheads, that they might be partakers of the mystery of sin, more conscious of the secret guilt of others, both in deed and thought, than they could now be of their own. The husband cast one look at his pale wife, and Faith at him. What polluted wretches would the next glance show them to each other, shuddering alike at what they disclosed and what they saw!

"Faith! Faith!" cried the husband, "look up to heaven, and resist the wicked one."

Whether Faith obeyed he knew not. Hardly had he spoken when he found himself amid calm night and solitude, listening to a roar of the wind which died heavily away through the forest. He staggered against the rock, and felt it chill and damp; while a hanging twig, that had been all on fire, besprinkled his cheek with the coldest dew.

Answer 1

The allegory in "Young Goodman Brown" refers to the good and evil that exist in everyone, and how our actions often contradict our faith, as explained below.

What is an allegory?

We call an allegory a story that has a deeper meaning, that is, in which the characters and events represent something else, a bigger idea or theme. In "Young Goodman Brown," the story is an allegory concerning religion, good and evil, and actions versus faith.

The story criticizes the Puritans and the way they pretend to be holy and obedient. Every single character in the story has met with the devil and made a pact with him. Everyone, including the main character Brown and his wife Faith.

As we can see, even "faith" can be swayed by the devil. That means we all have the capacity for good and evil. Our actions, as a matter of fact, often contradict our faith.

We can conclude, thus, that the allegory in "Young Goodman Brown" serves as a criticism to religion.

Learn more about allegories here:

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