"Young Goodman Brown:"
A Character Analysis of the Female Characters
Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story, "Young Goodman Brown," was written in 1835. It "is known for being one of literature's most gripping portrayals of seventeenth-century Puritan society" (Napierkowski). Hawthorne's use of symbols throughout the story illustrates the Puritan beliefs, and his female characters are wonderful examples of some of his symbolism and represent the nineteenth-century women's stereotypes.
The main female character is Young Goodman Brown's wife, Faith. This is not only her name which gives the reader a glimpse into her character, but it also represents Young Goodman Brown's religious faith. When he leaves Faith behind to attend this meeting in the woods, he is leaving behind his religious faith as well.
Faith Brown is an example of typical stereotyping of women in the 1800's literature. She is described as sweet, pretty, and angelic with pink ribbons on her cap. She is expected to......
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Approximate Word Count: 1136
Approximate Pages: 5 (260 words per double-spaced page) |