Symbols are utilized as an enhancement tool to stress the theme of each story. In the story "Young Goodman Brown," Hawthorne uses the imagery of nature to develop the theme of appearance vs. reality. This is because the forest plays a role in exposing the reality that Goodman Brown rejects. He went in a deceived man and exits with a shocking new view. The majority of Hawthorne's symbols describe religion (both good and evil).
Symbolism runs rampant through the text of "Young Goodman Brown." Hawthorne relies heavily on objects to portray Satanism. …
