Hawthorne's use of the narrator in Young Goodman Brown

In Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown," the story is told through the eyes of a limited omniscient third-person narrator. This style is very accommodating to the story because it allows the author perfect opportunities to express his points. The narrator can both describe what Goodman Brown is doing, and also evaluate and comment on the characters actions. This is a tool of the author to use the narrator to express his own personal beliefs on …

…his dying hour was gloom." "Young Goodman Brown" is a prime example of how important point of view is. A good author, such as Nathaniel Hawthorne, can use point of view to manipulate the reader into seeing exactly what he wants to be seen. He narrated a story, commented on the story, and commented on the human race at the same time. "Young Goodman Brown" really exemplifies the prominence of point of view in fiction.