What is the author's purpose in The Scarlet Letter?

Question: What is the author's purpose in The Scarlet Letter!?

please help! =) thanksWww@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

I have long thought that Hawthorne's purpose in writing The Scarlet Letter was to expose hypocrisy in the Puritan way of life!.
The 'letter' is worn by a woman who remains silent because, I think, her feelings about what she did were pure!. The man involved remains silent, I think, because his feelings about his role were not pure, and, in fact, hypocritical!.

It has been a long time since I've read about Hester and her 'baby,' but this is what I have also felt for a long time: that the 'purpose' of this book is to show that human beings can be very misunderstood on the surface of a rigid society, and can be made to suffer, but strangely the suffering ends out to be felt more by one whose silence is to hide behind a facade than by one whose silence is to show self-esteem, love, and strength of character!.

Puritanism, in what I think is Hawthorne's view, wasn't a good spiritual path to follow, as it led to unjustified outrage and ridiculous punishment, and not always against the right person!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

Thats definitely a subjective question!.

I believe that Hawthorne wrote it as a commentary on the nature of people to adhere to their beliefs and reject anything they see as foreign!. He uses Hester's sin as a catalyst to the wrath of the townspeople as well as the antagonist Chillingsworth!. He draws strong criticisms against Puritanism in general!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

In terms of !.!. what!? Why he wrote it!? What he's trying to prove!?

Basically, Hawthorne is trying to portray the physical and psychological effects of having a guilty conscience!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

Take a look at Wikipedia!.org!. It's article on The Scarlet Letter is very accurate and insightful!. It'll give you plenty of analytical help!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

To show us what life was like back in his day!.
Possibly how revenge isn't any better than the person who committed the crime!.
And what the girl before me said!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Many consider it to be a social commentary!.Www@QuestionHome@Com