In short stories, I have learned that there is much more than what at*BR*
             first meets the eye. Almost everything in the story has meaning. All I*BR*
             have to do is try to find the hints and clues the writer drops and*BR*
             manage to put them all together. I have to concentrate more than I ever*BR*
             have so that I can interpret the authors meaning and what he or she*BR*
             might really be trying to convey in the writing. In "Young Goodman*BR*
             Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, I determined that through diverse*BR*
             symbolism, Hawthorne writes of a man who in his coming of age learns*BR*
             that there is a darkness in everyone and upon this coming of knowledge,*BR*
             From the start, Hawthorne describes Goodman Brown as a good Puritan who*BR*
             is devoted to his wife ^ÑFaith,' whose name he uses like a shield for his*BR*
             soul. At the beginning of his walk through the woods, Brown runs into*BR*
             the Devil who tries to convert him; this is shown by the Devil's*BR*
             offering of the staff to Brown. The Devil goes on to say that Brown's*BR*
             family has had dealings with evil in the past; examples used are the*BR*
             Salem witch trials and the killing of Indian non-combatants. This may*BR*
             be Hawthornes way of dealing with guilt he might have felt over his own*BR*
             forbears' actions during those times. Brown goes on to say that he*BR*
             could not bear the shame of betraying his faith while the Devil is*BR*
             naming people known and respected by Brown to try to show him that it*BR*
             wouldn't really be that bad if Brown joined the witches' coven. When*BR*
             Goody Cloyse is encountered, Brown learns how she truly feels about him;*BR*
             also, Goody Cloyse freely takes up the Devil's staff. Proud of himself*BR*
             for denying the Devil, while again using his wife's name to strengthen*BR*
             his resolve, Brown discovers that his respected Minister, Deacon Gookin,*BR*
             and even the Indians are all servants of the Devil. When
             ...