'Symbolism In Young Goodman Brown'

Many of the times authors use characters to convey an important message or theme through them. Even though, come characters are mentioned a only couple of times their significance is none the less important. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story “Young Goodman Brown”, the characters serve to show the symbolism that lies behind the overall story. The characters in “Young Goodman Brown” are very significant and they are vital to the story’s underling meaning. First, one of the major characters that is introduces in the beginning of the story is Faith, Goodman Brown’s wife. In literal terms Faith is just viewed as Brown’s wife, but she is something more than just that. She represents Brown’s faith that needs and is going to be tested throughout the story. At first when …show more content…
The congregation is composed of all the townspeople that Brown though were all saint and holy. Brown thought they were devoted to God, but he finds out that everyone sins even if he doesn’t want to accept the truth of his own nature. The congregation serves to represent the truth which is that, everyone sins and everyone is full of defects. Brown believes that just because someone goes to church they don’t contain sin but the truth is that the most kindhearted people have sin within them. There are many people in the Christian church that may look so saint and holy but they sin too. Even though, the Minister the deacon, and Goody Cloyse are expected to be saint they are not because they all originate from the original sin.
In conclusion, the major characters serve to emphasize a deeper meaning to the story, Also, through the characters Hawthorne gives the audience a glimpse of the time period in which he lived in. Together the characters also serve to bring the theme of the story together. The theme of the story is that we all have a good side and an evil side. Man can strive to reach perfection but will never fully achieve it here on