Dr. Bullivant (From: "The Doliver Romance and Other Pieces: Tales and Sketches")

"Dr. Bullivant" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a short story that uses the life of a charismatic, quick-witted apothecary to look at how society's values change over time. The story centers on Dr. Bullivant, a funny and intelligent man, who becomes popular in his community during the late 1600s. However, when Governor Andros takes control, Dr. Bullivant's jokes and cleverness get him into trouble, leading to his imprisonment and public shame as he shifts from local hero to public enemy. Later, when the political situation changes again, he's freed and returns to his shop, but he never regains his earlier spark, disappearing quietly and demonstrating how easily a person's reputation and worth can be lost.