"Young Goodman Brown," written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is a tale set in 17th-century Puritan New England. The story follows Goodman Brown, a young man who leaves his wife, Faith, to venture into the forest for a mysterious meeting. Along the way, he encounters various townspeople engaging in sinful acts, leading him to question the righteousness of his community and his own faith. The journey culminates in a disturbing revelation at a witches' gathering, where he sees even the most pious members of society consorting with the devil. This experience shatters Goodman Brown's trust in humanity and leaves him a bitter, distrustful man for the rest of his life. The story explores themes of faith, guilt, and the duality of human nature.
"Write a one-paragraph synopsis of the short story Young Goodman Brown" prompt. Microsoft Copilot, GPT-4, March 5, 2025, Microsoft, accessed March 5, 2025, copilot.microsoft.com.
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