Ambitious Guest

In this short story, a young man traveling through the White Mountains seeks shelter with a humble family. As they converse, he reveals his grand dreams of achieving fame and greatness. The family listens, and the young man grows more and more eager to impress them with his ambitions. However, just as he is about to leave, disaster strikes—a landslide sweeps through their home, tragically killing everyone, including the ambitious guest. Hawthorne’s tale explores the fragility of human aspirations and the unpredictability of fate, reminding readers that ambition can be fleeting and often overshadowed by forces beyond one's control.