The document is a compare and contrast essay analyzing the short stories "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson and "Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne. It argues that both stories show how human behavior and judgment can be flawed even when people think their intentions are good. Key similarities include themes of fear and underlying evil in Puritan settings. Differences in themes are also analyzed, such as blind acceptance of tradition in "The Lottery" versus basing beliefs on others in "Young Goodman Brown." Symbolism used and themes conveyed are compared between the two stories.