Earth's Holocaust (From "Mosses from an Old Manse")

"Earth's Holocaust" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a curious story about a huge bonfire where people throw in all sorts of things they don't want anymore, like fancy titles and war stuff. This takes place as more of a symbolic burning of the useless and the excess. People watch, talk, and wonder if burning these things will actually make the world a better place. Some are hopeful, thinking this will fix everything, while others aren't so sure if it will make any difference. The big question that's asked is whether getting rid of objects can change how people truly feel and act, suggesting that real change has to come from within.