The Haunted Mind (From "Twice Told Tales")

"The Haunted Mind" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a story within a collection that looks at what goes on in a person's mind when they are waking up, focusing on memories and thoughts that can be both beautiful and disturbing. It shows how the line between dreams and what's real can get blurry, and how a person's mind can jump from happy thoughts to sad or guilty ones. It paints a picture of a mind full of both light and dark, asking readers to think about their own thoughts and feelings and how the past can stick with you. The story creates strong feelings and images, showing both the good and bad sides of being human.