Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown"
             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 evident when Brown refers to himself as "a simple husband-man" (333). Young Goodman Brown, therefore, appears to be the average, naive, self-righteousness Puritan. Brown's wife's name, Faith, also appears to be a symbol of religious faith. For example, the text introduces Faith in the first paragraph and states that she is "aptly named" (331). When Brown leaves his
             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 h
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