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Symbols In Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown

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Symbols In Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown
Symbols in Short Stories Essay Prompt
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown” exhibits multiple symbols to explore the evil nature of humankind and the inevitable destruction of innocence. Hawthorne’s symbolic use of Faith not only emphasizes Faith’s place as Goodman Brown’s wife, but also encompasses his faith in God. Faith’s recurrence throughout the short story illustrates Goodman Brown’s departure from his faith, test of faith, and eventual loss of faith. In the beginning, Goodman Brown must leave his wife, Faith, and the sheltered life of the town to go places unknown to him. Faith’s premonitions of her husband’s journey foreshadow the inevitable downfall of Goodman Brown, but he is oblivious to this fact. Brown believes that a quick
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