of temptation Hawthorne writes Dreary road darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest The dark forest is not just nature It is a symbol of fear temptation and evil The path is narrow and hidden Shadows move and strange voices call The forest becomes the mirror of Brown s own soul It shows his doubts his secret desires and his hidden weakness For Hawthorne the forest is the human heart filled with darkness The Serpent Staff The mysterious traveler carries a staff like a living snake Hawthorne describes the staff in such a way Bore the likeness of a great black snake This recalls the Biblical serpent in Eden The serpent staff symbolizes Satan deception and temptation When the traveler offers it to Brown it shows how evil always tries to guide man s steps The staff is not just wood it is a symbol of sin s power over weak human hearts Goody Cloyse the Minister and Deacon Gookin These religious figures are also symbols Goody Cloyse who taught Brown his catechism joins the Devil s meeting Brown says about her That old woman taught me my catechism The Minister and Deacon Gookin who lead Salem s faith also walk toward evil They symbolize Puritan hypocrisy They look holy outside but inside they hide sin Through them Hawthorne shows that symbols of piety often carry corruption The Midnight Meeting In the forest Brown sees a fiery altar and a great crowd There are villagers holy men women and sinners At that place all are the same Good and evil stand together This meeting is a symbol of mankind s universal sin It shows that behind religion and social respect every human heart hides darkness It is the truth of human nature Salem Village At the end Brown returns to Salem But the village no longer looks pure He sees the minister Deacon Gookin Goody Cloyse and even his wife But he feels no trust Salem village becomes a symbol of Puritan hypocrisy The people act holy outside but in Brown s eyes they are all corrupt inside The village is a symbol of society s false face Hawthorne uses symbols to turn a simple tale into a deep allegory The ribbon the forest the serpent staff Faith the meeting and Salem all carry hidden meanings Each symbol shows the fall of Goodman Brown from innocence into despair Through symbols Hawthorne teaches that man s outer holiness may hide inner sin Young Goodman Brown proves that symbolism is the true power of Hawthorne s art