Feathertop

Summary

In an intricate dance between literary escapism and personal reckoning, Elsie Green, a young woman adrift amidst the competing affections of two distinct suitors, finds her existential quandary mirrored and ultimately resolved through the pages of Nathaniel Hawthorne's allegorical tale, 'Feathertop.' As she immerses herself in the narrative, Elsie's consciousness transcends the mundane, casting her as Polly Goodkin, the central figure in Hawthorne's fantastical creation. Within this dreamscape, she navigates a world where artifice and genuine emotion clash, embodied by a scarecrow imbued with life through dark magic, a being of superficial charm yet profound emptiness. This vivid, introspective journey, wherein the illusory nature of outward appearances is laid bare, forces Elsie-as-Polly to confront the very essence of authenticity in love and human connection. The profound emotional resonance of this dream-vision acts as a crucible, distilling her real-world romantic confusion into crystalline clarity, thereby guiding her towards a definitive decision regarding her own heart's true inclination.

Synopsis

Elsie Green cannot decide which of her two suitors to marry. When she reads Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story "Feathertop", she dreams that she is its heroine Polly Goodkin, and this leads to her final decision.