> Hawthorne uses allegory and symbolism to tell us the story of
             > "Young Goodman Brown". The whole story is an allegory to represent mans
             > faith in religion and fear of the devil. Throughout the story we find
             > many forms of symbolism to further strengthen the allegorical theme of
             > mans religious belief and internal doubts about religion.. The authors
             > use of the name Faith for Goodman Browns wife can be interpreted as an
             > allegory for religious faith. The character is deeply religious and
             > battles throughout the story with his faith. Also in the story the
             > author talks about the devils staff. He mentions more then once the look
             > of the staff being serpentine, and amorphous, before he clearly states "
             > it assumed life, being one of the rods which its owner had formerly lent
             > to the Egyptian Magi". This clearly relates to the story of Moses in
             > the bible when the staffs become serpents. Not only is the staff
             > symbolic of evil but this event is an allegory for the religious belief
             > and the fight with the religious opposition.
             > We never are told if the events in the forest actually happened
             > or if they were just a dream. It really does not matter though. His
             > internal conflicts with his religious beliefs. The religious fervor of
             > the time. And the doubts the events caused in young Goodman Brown caused
             > him to become " stern, sad, darkly meditative, distrustful, and a
             > desparate man". The story clearly reflects the puritanical religious
             > fanaticism of the time the story is based in. The author shows us a man
             > who is driven by his religious beliefs and who thinks everyone around
             > him is evil and in league with the devil. I am sure it was this extreme,
             > religious, deluded type of mentality that allowed the witch hangings in
             > Salem around this same time period.
             ...