The Intelligence Office (From "Mosses from an Old Manse")

"The Intelligence Office (From 'Mosses from an Old Manse')" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a short story written during the 19th century, specifically in the Romantic period. This work can be classified as a fictional narrative that explores themes of human desire and the search for one's place in the world. The setting is an Intelligence Office, which serves as a public space where various characters come seeking assistance for their needs, wishes, and existential queries. In the story, a range of individuals enter the Intelligence Office, each expressing their unique desires and losses, from searching for love or lost items to seeking a sense of purpose in life. The central figure, the Intelligencer, listens patiently but often cannot fulfill the deeper emotional needs of his visitors; he can only record their wishes. This leads to poignant reflections on the nature of desire, identity, and the complexities of human experience. Hawthorne masterfully captures the essence of human longing, illustrating how many people are "out of place" in their pursuits, often leading to discontent. The story concludes with the Intelligencer revealing that he is merely the Recording Spirit, hinting at the futility of seeking external validation for internal struggles. (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.