The authors, Shirley Jackson and Nathaniel Hawthorne, both frequently use symbols within their st
ories 'The Lottery' and 'Young Goodman Brown.' Symbols are utilized as an enhancement tool to stres
s the theme of each story. Hawthorne uses names and objects to enhance the theme, and Jackson mainly
utilizes names to stress the theme, although she does have one object as a symbol of great importan
ce to the theme. The stories both contain symbols describing evil. The majority of Hawthorne's symb
ols describe religion (both good and evil), but Jackson's symbols reflect the evil nature within soc
iety as a whole. There exists symbolic acts in each story. The short stories both share the use of
symbols, but the symbols are used to express different thoughts in ones mind while reading them.
The stories 'Young Goodman Brown' and 'The Lottery' both use names as symbols. Hawthorne uses the n
ames Young Goodman Brown and Faith to portray nice, descent people. The name Faith alone implies a
faithful and Christian individual as stated 'And Faith, as the wife was aptly named,' (211). Jack
son uses the name Mr. Graves throughout her story, he is the coordinator of the lottery. She needs n
ot give any explanation to the name, as it speaks for itself (a symbol of death). Various other nam
es are used as symbols within each story, however, these mentioned are the most significant names to
the theme. The stories each contain names, objects, and acts as important symbols.
Hawthorne uses
the names to stress good people, but relies heavily on objects to portray Satanism. The object of
obvious Satanism is the staff (a cane) mentioned throughout the story. It is clearly identified wh
en the old traveler throws it down in the sentence 'it assumed life, being one of the rods which its
owner had formerly lent to the Egyptian Magi' (215). According to the Bible. sorcerers with magic
powers change their rods into serpents. Jackson uses the black box throughout her story as a symbo
l of tradition not to be changed as stated 'Every year, after the lottery, Mr. Summers began talkin
g about a new box, but every year the subject was allowed to fade off without anything's being done'
(249). The fact it is an old black wore out box puts evil thoughts in ones mind while reading the
story. The symbolic objects in each story differ, Hawthorne's are to show Satanism, rather than the
evil in people as Jackson's shows.
The stories each contain symbolic acts. The devil's comments d
uring his sermon such as 'Evil is the nature of mankind. Evil must be your only happiness' (220) i
s a clear symbolic act of Satanism, although Satanism is never mentioned by the author. Jackson use
s symbolic acts to stress the evil in mankind. An example is Mrs. Delacroix, a friend of Tessie's,
chooses a large rock to throw 'Mrs. Delacroix selected a stone so large she had to pick it up with b
oth hands' (254). Additionally evil in people is clearly proven in the statement 'The children had
stones already, and someone gave little Davey Hutchinson a few pebbles' (254). One finds it not onl
y hard to believe the children would participate, but her son participating in his own mother's deat
h too, makes this an incredible symbolic act of evil. Symbolic acts play a major role to the theme
of each story although they are used to express different meanings.
The two short stories, 'Young G
oodman Brown and 'The Lottery', are very similar regarding the importance of symbols to each. The m
eaning of the symbols, whether names, objects, or acts, are different. Symbols are important in eac
h story to define the theme. Close observation of the symbols within each story proves to one their
importance.
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. 'Young Goodman Brown' Literature: An Introduction to Fiction,
Poetry, and Drama. Ed. X. J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 6th ed. New York: Harper Collins, 1995. 21
1-220
Jackson, Shirley. 'The Lottery' Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama.
Ed. X. J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia 6th ed. New York: Harper Collins, 1995. 248-254authors shirley
jackson nathaniel hawthorne both frequently symbols within their stories lottery young goodman brow
n symbols utilized enhancement tool stress theme each story hawthorne uses names objects enhance the
me jackson mainly utilizes names stress theme although does have object symbol great importance stor
ies both contain symbols describing evil majority hawthorne describe religion both good evil jackson
reflect evil nature within society whole there exists symbolic acts each story short stories share
used express different thoughts ones mind while reading them young goodman brown lottery names uses
young goodman brown faith portray nice descent people name faith alone implies faithful christian in
dividual stated faith wife aptly named uses name graves throughout story coordinator lottery needs g
ive explanation name speaks itself symbol death various other used within each however these mention
ed most significant contain objects acts important stress good people relies heavily objects portray
satanism object obvious satanism staff cane mentioned throughout clearly identified when traveler t
hrows down sentence assumed life being rods which owner formerly lent egyptian magi according bible
sorcerers with magic powers change their rods into serpents black throughout symbol tradition change
d stated every year after summers began talking about every year subject allowed fade without anythi
ng being done fact black wore puts thoughts ones mind while reading symbolic differ show satanism ra
ther than people shows contain symbolic acts devil comments during sermon such nature mankind must y
our only happiness clear although never mentioned author mankind example delacroix friend tessie cho
oses large rock throw delacroix selected stone large pick with hands additionally clearly proven sta
tement children stones already someone gave little davey hutchinson pebbles finds only hard believe
children would participate participating mother death makes this incredible play major role although
they used express different meanings short very similar regarding importance meaning whether differ
ent important define close observation proves their importance nathaniel literature introduction fic
tion poetry drama kennedy dana gioia york harper collins shirley literature introduction fiction poe
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