Young Goodman Brown (short story)

"Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a story about a man named Goodman Brown who ventures into the woods, believed to be a place of evil and temptation. As he encounters various townspeople and figures from his community, he witnesses their hidden sins and hypocrisies. The experience leaves him distrustful and disillusioned with human goodness, causing him to become wary and bitter. The story explores themes of faith, morality, and the coexistence of good and evil within individuals. It suggests that suspicion and loss of innocence can profoundly affect one’s view of the world.