Nathaniel Hawthorne magically captures the attention and imagination of the reader in his short story "Young Goodman Brown." Through his use of mysterious symbolism, unique characters, and an intriguing plot, the author builds the suspense of the reader until the shocking climax is revealed. The story "Young Goodman Brown" seems to hint that a lack of faith and forgiveness can destroy ones life and the core beliefs that one builds his life upon.

Hawthorne uses symbolism throughout the short story, "Young Goodman Brown," making it challenging for the reader to comprehend the difference in appearance and reality. Three significant symbols appear to be the title character, his wife, and the forest. The name of the title character, "Young Goodman Brown," is the first example of apparent symbolism. Young implies that the character is naive and inexperienced at life. The text mentions that he is young enough to be the son of his 50-year-old traveling companion (332). Goodman suggests that he is a moral man. This seems to be evident when Goodman Brown tells the devil, "We are a people of prayer and good works" (333). Brown hints that he is an ordinary man. This too appears evid

wife to begin his journey he says, "After this one night I will cling to her skirts and follow her to heaven" (332). This follows traditional Puritan beliefs that if one has faith, he will go to heaven. Finally, when Faith replies to her husband, she says, "Then God bless you" (332). This statement permits one to believe that she is a Christian. Nathaniel Hawthorne effectively uses the name Faith to symbolize faith and strength in Young Goodman Brown. Another symbol used by Hawthorne is the dark, dreary forest. Brown's long, supernatural journey through the forest alludes to his struggle between good (his conscious) and evil (his subconscious). This is suggested when he is hesitant to travel any farther and cries, "Too far! Too far!" (333). The fact that Brown meets the devil at a fork in the road seems to symbolize the path to heaven or hell. Brown tries to resist the temptations of the other traveler, but the man convinces him to go on saying, "Let us walk on, and if I convince thee not thou shalt turn back" (333). The entire forest is depicted to be evil and is described by the author to have "frightful sounds - the creaking of trees, the howling of wild beasts, and the yell of Indians" (336). Hawthorne's use of the symbolic haunted forest sets the mood and allows

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Approximate Word count = 859
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)