The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg

"The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg" is a short story by Mark Twain, published in 1899. Set in the fictional town of Hadleyburg, the story revolves around the town's self-righteousness and moral superiority. When a stranger arrives in town and is wronged by a resident, he seeks revenge by devising an elaborate scheme to corrupt the town's supposedly incorruptible citizens. The stranger leaves behind a sack containing a substantial sum of money and a note revealing the identity of the one person who showed him kindness. As greed consumes the townspeople, they vie for the money, ultimately revealing their true nature and the hypocrisy underlying their virtuous facade. Through clever plot twists and biting satire, Twain exposes the fragility of moral integrity and the corrupting influence of greed. "The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg" serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of self-righteousness and the allure of dishonesty.