The innocent setting at the beginning of the story is set up by the author’s establishment of purity through his use of color and symbolism. Goodman’s wife, Faith, is established as an innocent in the story through the use of pink ribbons in her hair, and the symbolism of her name. “Letting the wind play with her pink ribbons”(316) and “came forth at sunset”(316) are both two pieces of imagery that put a scene of tranquility into the readers mind. Towards the end of the scene Goodman refers to his wife as “My love and my Faith”(317), which comes into play later in the story when Goodman is forced to choose between the devil and his wife.
Once the beginning scene is over, Hawthorne’s tone becomes evil and dark. Goodman’s path leads him through a dark forest at night. “A dreary road, darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest”(317) is how Hawthorne describes Goodman’s path. The man that Goodman meets, which we learn later is the devil, is “clad in grave and decent attire”(317). This description gives the character a dark and evil air about him. “His staff, which bore the likeness of a great black snake”(318), this quote relates the new character to evil and is the readers first hint that this man is Satan. “The devil!” screams a witch when the stranger approaches her, showing the reader that the stranger really is Satan. A congregation of Satanists is revealed to Goodman “as the red light arose and fell”. The red light presents an eerie and evil setting because red is most associated with Satan.
The diction that Hawthorne uses to express the characters establishes the time period. “With heaven above, and faith below, I will yet stand firm against the devil”(322) is a good example, the dialect is reminiscent of colonial America, so the reader is able to understand what time period the story is taking place in without requiring an introduction to the setting at the beginning.
The townsfolk that Hawthorne chooses to use as extra characters in the story are specially chosen to establish the idea of pure evil. “Whither, then, could these holy men be journeying”(322), Hawthorne uses the religious leaders of the community as an example to show that in this story, evil penetrates everywhere. Goody Cloyse, an elder lady, is also used. The idea of a little old lady and all of the religious leaders being involved in devil worshipping shows the reader that the entire community is probably involved. This puts the reader more in support of Goodman, because he is the only one who is still faithful to God.
The overall tone throughout “Young Goodman Brown” would have to be ominous, with the usage of Satan, corruption, and darkness to establish that tone. Nathaniel Hawthorne does a very good job of establishing the tone and providing a good picture for the reader through the use of imagery.