Young Goodman Brown

Hawthorne uses a great deal of symbolism as he tells the story of Young Goodman Brown. He chooses the names of his characters very carefully in a sense that they stand for many things. For example Young Goodman Browns name is Faith. As the story progresses Hawthorne reveals to the reader that Faith is not just her name, for it actually symbolizes Faith. Hawthorne also names Young Goodman Brown his name as a form of a symbol. Young Goodman Brown symbolizes any young man. Hawthorne uses these names to explain the characters to the readers and for them to easily identify the meanings of them. Hawthorne also places symbolism in the settings and surroundings of the story. Most of the story takes place in a forest and the wilderness, Which symbolizes how a man must make his decisions alone and learn to think for himself.