The Man of Adamant (From: "The Snow Image and Other Twice-Told Tales")

"The Man of Adamant" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a short story that explores what happens when someone becomes too set in their ways and shuts out the world. The story is about Richard Digby, who thinks his strict religious views make him better than everyone else, so he hides away in a cave. A woman who used to respect him, Mary Goffe, tries to help him and bring him back to other people. Even though she tries hard to show him kindness, Richard is too stubborn and mean, pushing her away and trapping himself in the cave forever, changing into stone. The story serves as a warning about the problems with being isolated and the importance of being open to others.