Sylph Etherege (From: "The Snow Image and Other Twice-Told Tales")

"Sylph Etherege" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a story set in the romantic era that tells of Sylvia Etherege, a sheltered orphan, and her profound struggle with love, fantasy, and the pain of disillusionment. Raised in solitude, Sylvia has constructed an idealistic image of her cousin, Edgar Vaughan, as her perfect match. However, when Edgar returns from Europe, Edward Hamilton deceives Sylvia by pretending to be Vaughan, cruelly playing with her fantasies. This deception leads to Sylvia's world crumbling as she confronts the stark contrast between her dreams and reality, causing her to question her identity, her love, and the very essence of her existence in a heartbreaking resolution.