The short story of Young Goodman Brown features many symbols and words that could produce different meanings, depending on how the story is looked at. A good example of this is how the word “faith” is represented in this story. One way faith functions in the story is that Faith is the name of Goodman Brown’s wife, however references in the story also reflect how Goodman Brown is feeling about his own faith. In the beginning of the story it is clearly noted that Faith is Brown’s wife: “And Faith, as the wife was aptly named.” As Brown is making his journey into the woods he states: "Faith kept me back a while”, this could either mean his wife kept him back or his own faith kept him back. I think Brown feels unsure about the trip he is about to make and he is maybe questioning his own faith or religion. Brown also states: “With heaven above and Faith below, I will yet stand firm against the devil!” This is a powerful message because Brown goes on to say, “There is no good on earth.” Brown must be in a really bad place where he thinks there is no good on earth and he seems very confused about his beliefs. Brown also stated: "My Faith is gone!" I think Brown is experiencing situations that he has never been in before and they are really testing his own faith and beliefs. This quote could also mean being that Brown thought he lost his wife that with her being gone and without loving her there is no good on earth. At the end of the story when Brown partakes in the mystery of sin he cries: "Faith! Faith! Look up to heaven, and resist the wicked one." Brown seems to be either calling out for his wife or for his own faith that he needs help to resist the devil or evil and come back to his own beliefs. At the very end Brown seems to become a lost sole and angry man. “When the family knelt down at prayer, he scowled and muttered to himself, and gazed sternly at his wife.” Brown has lost all his faith and became an evil man. Faith is significant because she is warning Brown not to go on the journey and along his journey there are many references back to faith, which are his own beliefs, trying to keep him from evil. Ultimately, Brown’s faith ends up losing the war to evil and his own wife Faith seems to have lost the husband she used to know. 
There are a couple symbols in this short story that represent different meanings. A good example of this is the wooden, or devils staff that is given to Goodman Brown by the traveler. Before Goodman Brown ventured on his journey he was a pure, Christian man. Goodman Brown felt overcome to go on this journey where he knew he would be faced with challenging and uncomfortable situations. When Goodman Brown is in the forest with the traveler (the devil) he decides he wants to return home to his wife, Faith. "Well, then, to end the matter at once," said Goodman Brown, considerably nettled, "there is my wife, Faith. It would break her dear little heart; and I'd rather break my own.” The traveler tries to persuade Goodman Brown to carry on his journey but Goodman Brown is still hesitant and claims he wants to return home. The traveler then gives Goodman Brown his staff and tells him to rest;
"You will think better of this by and by," said his acquaintance, composedly. "Sit here and rest yourself a while; and when you feel like moving again, there is my staff to help you along." Goodman Brown ends up giving into the temptation of continuing on his journey and ends up losing his own faith to the devil.
Another symbol in this story is the pink ribbons Faith wears. The pink ribbons represent that Faith has innocence and purity, something Goodman Brown loses when he went on his journey. “Faith, as the wife was aptly named, thrust her own pretty head into the street, letting the wind play with the pink ribbons of her cap while she called to Goodman Brown.” As Faith calls out to Goodman Brown as he is leaving it is noted that she has her pink ribbons. "Then God bless youe!" said Faith, with the pink ribbons; "and may you find all well when you come back." As Goodman Brown is on his journey he begins hear Faith talking, which he assumes she is at the ceremony as well. “There was a scream, drowned immediately in a louder murmur of voices, fading into far-off laughter, as the dark cloud swept away, leaving the clear and silent sky above Goodman Brown. But something fluttered lightly down through the air and caught on the branch of a tree. The young man seized it, and beheld a pink ribbon. "My Faith is gone!" cried he, after one stupefied moment. "There is no good on earth; and sin is but a name. Come, devil; for to thee is this world given." Goodman Brown thinks Faith has gone down an evil path and accepted the devil. Faith’s pink ribbons being caught on the tree show her innocence and purity is gone. Once Goodman Brown returns home Faith is there to greet him “Turning the corner by the meeting-house, he spied the head of Faith, with the pink ribbons, gazing anxiously forth, and bursting into such joy at sight of him that she skipped along the street and almost kissed her husband before the whole village. But Goodman Brown looked sternly and sadly into her face, and passed on without a greeting.” This quote shows that Faith was never in the forest and she still has her innocence and purity. I think Goodman Brown is angry when he sees this because of what he hallucinated in the forest and how he lost his faith due to attending the ceremony. 
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