Did Ethan Brand find the unpardonable sin?

Answer 1

In Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story "Ethan Brand," the protagonist seeks the unpardonable sin throughout his life, believing it to be a profound understanding of human nature and sin itself. Ultimately, he discovers that the unpardonable sin is the complete absence of love and compassion, which leads to his own isolation and despair. This realization leaves him in a state of existential dread, as he grapples with the implications of his findings and the emptiness it brings. Thus, while he identifies the unpardonable sin, it results in his tragic downfall rather than enlightenment.