Goodman Brown

"Young Goodman Brown" is a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne that explores themes of faith, morality, and the human tendency toward sin. The story follows Goodman Brown as he embarks on a mysterious evening walk into the woods, where he encounters representatives of evil and witnesses a satanic ceremony. This experience causes him to question the goodness of those around him, including himself, leading to a loss of innocence and trust. The story suggests that all people, even seemingly virtuous ones, grapple with hidden flaws and moral ambiguity.