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…showed last 75 words of 697 total…setting constructed by Hawthorne was intended to provide a sense of a supernatural force acting on Goodman. The manner in which he repeatedly ignored reason to be coerced into such a predicament cannot be fully understood in the context of this story without this element. Hence the setting is an integral part in any explanation as to his lack of faith and aversion to the human race he exhibits at the conclusion of the story.