Final answer:
In Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'Young Goodman Brown,' Goodman Brown returns to his village after an encounter in the forest and passes his wife, Faith, without a greeting, signifying his internal conflict.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story Young Goodman Brown, where the character Dimmesdale does not appear. Instead, Goodman Brown is the protagonist of the story. The particular scene being asked about involves Goodman Brown's return to Salem after his encounter in the forest, which may have been a dream or a witch-meeting. When he approaches Hester, which is probably a misreference to his wife, Faith, it is described that he looks sternly and sadly into her face and passes on without a greeting, reflecting his internal turmoil and loss of innocence post his experience.
The complexity of Goodman Brown's character is showcased in this action, as he struggles to reconcile his experiences with his previous perception of the world, leading to a confrontation with his wife that signifies a broader conflict between perception and reality within the Puritan society.