The Birthmark, The Minister’s Black Veil, and Young Goodman Brown: Symbolism Symbolism is used throughout Hawthorne’s literary works. In the three short stories: The Birthmark, The Minister’s Black Veil, and Young Goodman Brown symbolism is used to show the thoughts of the Puritans in opposition to their beliefs. In the short story, Young Goodman Brown, The main character has an internal struggle. The argument between good and evil going on in his head causes him to look at the townspeople from a whole new perspective. He sees them as evil, but what they really symbolize is this argument t