witch trials and the burning of Indian villages. The devil could stand for the unpleasant, painful truth of the past and the sin than exists in the people of the present as an allegory of evil.I think that Hawthorne was making a statement about the Puritan religion in respect to his family background and their beliefs and his questioning of his heritage. As a Puritan, Young Goodman Brown sought a true conversion experience. Whether or not the meeting in the woods existed is not important. Puritans required their followers to doubt themselves and their community so much that a reality in which they could be good and trustworthy did not exist. It also taught that you could not trust anyone. During the Witch trials of that day men turned on accused wives as Goodman Brown also turned on his wife and lost her as well as his spiritual faith over something that may or may not have existed. Hawthorne uses symbolism to write a story that is left open to the readers interpretation. I do think Hawthorne wants the reader to be aware of sin in his/her own heart. I also think he wanted the reader to know that being aware of sin can help one better deal with life and to isolate oneself from society and reject all that have sinned can only lead to a lonely, miserable end. ...
