The Man of Adamant / (From: "The Snow Image and Other Twice-Told Tales")

Name: The Man of Adamant / (From: "The Snow Image and Other Twice-Told Tales")
Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne

The story follows Richard Digby, a stern, self-righteous recluse who withdraws into a remote cave to escape what he deems a sinful world while his heart is said to be literally calcifying. A devoted woman from his past travels to find him, offering a healing remedy and entreating him to rejoin community, but he refuses. The narrative traces his increasing moral and physical hardening, the woman's patient but failing attempts to reach him, and the symbolic consequences of isolation, fanaticism, and emotional sterility as the cave, the characters, and their fates become intertwined with images of stone and cold.

By Nathaniel Hawthorne

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American Literature Short Stories

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About the Author

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American novelist and short story writer, born in 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts. He is best known for his exploration of moral complexity and the human condition, often set against the backdrop of New England's Puritan heritage. His notable works include "The Scarlet Letter," which delves into themes of sin and redemption, and "The House of the Seven Gables," a tale of guilt and retribution. Hawthorne's writing is characterized by its rich symbolism and psychological depth, making significant contributions to American literature. His stories often reflect his fascination with the darker aspects of human nature and the consequences of isolation.