Nathaniel Hawthorne's Use of Symbolism "Young Goodman Brown," by Nathaniel Hawthorne is not only an entertaining story about faith and the curiosity of sin but his use of symbols brings the readers attention to certain elements in the story that keep the story interesting and educational. Faith, her pink ribbon, and the dark and fiery woods establish the mood and theme of the story. The first use of symbolism in this story, and probably the …showed first 75 words of 443 total…

…showed last 75 words of 443 total…of a clearing have been set on fire, and throw up their lurid blaze against the sky, at the hour of midnight." The use of midnight and fire leads the mind toward images of hell. Hawthorne exercises these symbols to advance the story and keep the reader interested. The woods set the mood of darkness and sin. The benefits from Faith and her ribbon establish innocence and the removal of it into sin ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography**