Have you ever noticed the symbols an author uses? Do you ever wonder how one symbol or metaphor can affect the entire reading? Nathaniel Hawthorne uses a numerous amount of symbols in all his writings; “The Sister-Years,” “The Haunted Mind,” “The Great Stone Face,” etc. The symbols used in “Young Goodman Brown” are very effective and well executed. Symbols can mean many things, but most importantly, these symbols allow the reader to conduct a study and conclude many things about the characters and the story in general. In “Young Goodman Brown” Nathaniel Hawthorne uses name, color, and title/positioning to depict and symbolize the characters as well as their circumstance. To start off with, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses names as a symbol. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses names to allow the reader to make an assumption of the character or have a general gist of their profile. The first character that can be depicted by their name is Goodman Brown. Goodman Brown is the main character who is said to be a religious man and come from a very religious family. The name Goodman Brown itself is used as a symbol. They have a good name in their village and are well respected. Goodman Brown is supposed to be a man of righteousness and follow god’s orders, just as his ancestors. The name is meant to portray Brown as a good man, hence Goodman Brown. This allows the reader to assume that Brown is a good civilian with profound morals. This is later contrasted when he meets with the devil and questions religion and life itself. Another character whose name can be viewed as a symbol is Faith, Goodman’s wife. The name Faith shows the good and the prosperity in their marriage. The name itself is used to portray the trust and love, in not only their marriage, but their village. Faith means the belief in the existence of God: strong religious feelings or beliefs, a system of religious beliefs (Webster). Faith is later questioned by her husband Go