The Great Stone Face, and Other Tales of the White Mountains

"The Great Stone Face, and Other Tales of the White Mountains" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a collection of stories set against the backdrop of New Hampshire’s natural landscapes, where an enormous rock formation resembling a human face looms large, sparking dreams of greatness in the inhabitants of the surrounding valley. The stories in the collection explore human desires and their moral dimensions, most notably through the character of Ernest, a young boy who grows up inspired by the Face and an old prophecy stating a noble man resembling the Face will one day appear. As Ernest matures, he holds onto his childhood dreams of greatness, while powerful men return to the valley, each hoping to be recognized as the foretold figure, highlighting the conflict between outward appearances and genuine virtue. As Ernest compares these men to the Great Stone Face, there is an ongoing tension between expectation and reality.