Authors use a variety of techniques to influence readers. Author Nathaniel Hawthorne is no exception. Two of his stories, “The Minister’s Black Veil” and “Young Goodman Brown,” focus on the balance of religion in daily life. “The Minister’s Black Veil” refers to a town minister who, much to the people’s dismay, wears a black veil upon his head to his grave. “Young Goodman Brown” concerns a newlywed man who invokes on an evil journey in the middle of the night when he stumbles upon a group of townsfolk involving themselves in witchcraft. Although different stories, both share similar stylistic devices and a theme. In “The Minister’s Black Veil” and “Young Goodman Brown,” Nathaniel Hawthorne uses symbolism, foreshadowing, and imagery to prepare
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An example of this is within Hawthorne’s story, “The Minister’s Black Veil.” When the minister suddenly appears among the town with a black veil, the reader can clearly tell an unknown reaction will result. Hawthorne foreshadows what is to come when he writes, “ ‘I don't like it,’ muttered an old woman, as she hobbled into the meeting-house. ‘He has changed himself into something awful, only by hiding his face’ “ (Hawthorne, “Minister” 2). The reaction of the people in the town, evidenced through the way this woman openly voiced her disapproval, shows the townsfolk will not openly accept the minister for who he is. This extra piece of knowledge helps the audience to predict the outcome of the story. Also, in “Young Goodman Brown,” the reader starts the story by wondering why Brown is going on his journey. To avoid confusion, Hawthorne inserts foreshadowing to hint to where the expedition is leading. He writes:
"Wickedness or not," said the traveller with the twisted staff, "I have a very general acquaintance here in New England. The deacons of many a church have drunk the communion wine with me; the selectmen, of divers towns, make me their chairman; and a majority of the Great and General Court are firm supporters of my interest. The governor and I, too--but these are state-secrets” (Hawthorne, “Brown”
An example of this is within Hawthorne’s story, “The Minister’s Black Veil.” When the minister suddenly appears among the town with a black veil, the reader can clearly tell an unknown reaction will result. Hawthorne foreshadows what is to come when he writes, “ ‘I don't like it,’ muttered an old woman, as she hobbled into the meeting-house. ‘He has changed himself into something awful, only by hiding his face’ “ (Hawthorne, “Minister” 2). The reaction of the people in the town, evidenced through the way this woman openly voiced her disapproval, shows the townsfolk will not openly accept the minister for who he is. This extra piece of knowledge helps the audience to predict the outcome of the story. Also, in “Young Goodman Brown,” the reader starts the story by wondering why Brown is going on his journey. To avoid confusion, Hawthorne inserts foreshadowing to hint to where the expedition is leading. He writes:
"Wickedness or not," said the traveller with the twisted staff, "I have a very general acquaintance here in New England. The deacons of many a church have drunk the communion wine with me; the selectmen, of divers towns, make me their chairman; and a majority of the Great and General Court are firm supporters of my interest. The governor and I, too--but these are state-secrets” (Hawthorne, “Brown”