The Story of Young Goodman Brown is a classic. Literature teachers across the nation assign it to students each year because of the very talented use of symbolism that author Nathaniel Hawthorne weaves throughout the story(Reesman, 1998). The use of symbolism is a tactic used by many authors to illustrate their point, plot or feelings about a particular topic. The storyline is built with symbolism as the foundation for meaning. Hawthorne uses symbolism to create a deep thought process about good and evil within the reader. One must remember that at the time the story was written religious issues were of utmost importance to society. The church was the complete overseer of the lives of those who belonged to the church. In the story Hawthorne creates a firm division between good and evil through the use of symbolism. .

             SYBOLISM.

             Before one can begin to identify the use of symbolism in the story of Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne, one must first understand what symbolism is when it comes to works of literature and how it is used. .

             Symbolism is the use of things to illustrate a point. For example in a story about an innocent young girl entering a bad area in town and becoming the victim of crime, she may have been dressed in pink frills and have a bow in her hair. The pink dress and the bow would be considered symbolic of her innocence. .

             Symbolism is used to illuminate a point that the storyline is already portraying. .

             IN THIS PARTICULAR STORY.

             "In "Young Goodman Brown," Hawthorne uses symbolism to illustrate the story of a young man who reluctantly departs from his world of innocence to realize the widespread evil that exists in his world(More Symbolismhttp://www.everything4me.netfirms.com/symbolism02.htm).".

             Another definition for symbolism is the act of creating abstract ideas through its use. .

             In Young Goodman Brown symbolism is evident from the very beginning of the story because of the names that the author chose to place on his characters.