The White Old Maid (From "Twice Told Tales")

"The White Old Maid (From 'Twice Told Tales')" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a short story written during the early 19th century. The piece intricately explores themes of love, loss, and the passage of time, portraying the tragic fate of two young women who are intertwined by their feelings for the same man, ultimately culminating in one becoming known as the "Old Maid in the Winding-Sheet". This story delves into the complexities of human emotions, particularly grief and longing, against a backdrop of Gothic elements. In the narrative, the story begins with a haunting scene where two maidens mourn over the corpse of a young man, leading to a pact that binds them to meet again in the presence of death. As years pass, one maiden, Edith, is consumed by her sorrow, becoming the "Old Maid" who follows funerals and embodies the spirit of mourning in the town. As the story progresses, the townspeople are left mystified by her spectral presence, reflecting on their own beliefs about life and death. The climax reveals a gathering at the long-deserted mansion where both the "Old Maid" and a stately lady, representing the other maiden, meet in a tragic conclusion, exploring the themes of unfulfilled love and the shadows of the past that haunt the living. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American novelist and short story writer. His works often focus on history, morality, and religion.