Comparing Young Goodman Brown And The Lottery

Although "Young Goodman Brown," by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and "The Lottery," by Shirley Jackson seem dissimilar, both stories have a common theme. Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown” and Jackson’s “The Lottery” both emphasize the dangers of moral absolutism and unexamined adherence to violent traditions through their plots and the use of symbolism and foreshadowing. Both Hawthorne and Jackson introduce the plots of their stories with communities that are fixed on traditions. In “Young Goodman Brown,” the opening sentence is “Young Goodman Brown came forth at sunset, into the street of the Salem village, but put his head back”, which Salem is a village that is known for witchcraft and the tradition of burning witches at the stake (Hawthorne 553). Hawthorne continues to depict a community that is stuck on their tradition. Later in the story, Hawthorne writes, “In truth they were such. Among them… appeared faces that would be seen, next day, at the council-board of the province, and others which, Sabbath after Sabbath, looked devoutly

In “Young Goodman Brown,” Hawthorne uses Young Goodman Brown’s name symbolically in the story by showing that Brown might not be as “good of a man” as he may seem. Hawthorne also uses Brown’s “aptly named” wife, Faith, as symbolism. Faith’s name symbolizes Brown’s innocence and religious faith. When Brown is late to his meeting, Hawthorne uses Faith’s name as symbolism to depict that Brown is going to lose his innocence and religious faith when Brown says “Faith kept me back awhile” (Hawthorne 554). In “The Lottery,” Jackson uses two names, Mr. Summers and Mr. Graves, as symbolism. It becomes apparent to the reader throughout the story that Jackson is using symbolism through the names of the people who arrange the lottery Summers and Graves. Jackson is implying that the lottery happens every summer, and every summer there will be