Young Goodman Brown

"Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a story about a young man who embarks on a nighttime journey into the woods, where he encounters people he respects—his community members—participating in a sinister secret ritual. This experience shatters his trust and innocence, revealing that evil exists within everyone, including those he admired. The story explores themes of faith, morality, and the duality of human nature, illustrating how personal doubts and the recognition of human fallibility can profoundly impact one's worldview and sense of righteousness.