What is the primary purpose for the custom House Introduction?
Every Novel has an introduction or a preface, to guide the readers into a specific state of mind desired by the author. This also is the case for Scarlet letter. The introduction claims many uses of rhetoric used by the author to give a sample of the author's style, so to speak. The introduction also gives the reader background information, including the history of the story line. This helps the reader better understand what the book is about and creates a way for the reader to be able to empathize with the characters. Introductions also gives the reader a clear look into the tone of the book, which in correspondence creates a specific mood the author might want the reader to be in.

The Author gives background information of the story line when he talks about Hester Prynne and her ancestors. The author directly and indirectly compares himself with this character. In doing this he makes himself question the true puritan in him and if in fact this isn’t a frivolous act (Hawthorne). Hawthorne’s diction paved way for the specific mood he wanted his readers to be. Using these uses of rhetoric the reader can better grasp the tone of the author. Another main purpose of the Custom House introduction is that Hawthorne wanted to broaden his audience and so to do that he had to change things up a bit ”tweak” it in preference to the word. In order to do this he had to give honor to whom they were due. In the introduction he gave the main writer Hester Prynne, and Mr. Surveyor Pue their credit, which they deserved.

What significant change does Hawthorne admit to making in telling the story contained in the diary?

Just like a director would change a true story, gone Hollywood movie to give the story line a dramatic lineage, so does Hawthorne change bits and pieces of the story to broaden the enjoyment level of the book. He changed his style of writing to entice a broader audience. Doing this thus gives a different tone than that that was previously established, by the first author Hester Prynne. In correspondence this changes the attitude the audience may have towards the book which is what Hawthorne wanted. He wanted a broader audience and to do this he had to sweeten up some of the details. This entices different kinds of readers.

The author admits to doing this and gives the Credit to those who credit was due. At first Hester Prynne wrote the story in the way she believed it should be told. Then, Mr. Pue comes along with the putting together of the details and the facts. After this, then comes Mr. Hawthorne who puts everything together, adds his own twist into the plot and writes a book. Hawthorne put it in mind to cite his sources and give full credit to Hester Prynne and Surveyor Pue. “The main facts of that story are authorized and authenticated by the document of Mr. Surveyor Pue,” (Hawthorne 32)

What potential impact will this change have on the story?

When one wants to tell a story …something life altering, something that can touch a person both mentally and emotionally, the story has to have life. The story also needs to have meaning. This is what Hawthorne does to bring the story of Hester Prynne to life. In doing this he administers his passion and does this proudly. This also changes the focus of Hawthorne because at the very beginning of the custom House Hawthorne’s tone was different. He spoke as a business and a political man. Towards the middle when he started talking about Hester Prynne, his tone changed in the midst of him creating a specific mood.

The potential impact of the change Hawthorne makes to the book is that the reader sees Nathaniel Hawthorne the writer not Nathaniel Hawthorne the business man. This helps in creating an immediate relationship between author and reader. Because Hawthorne wanted a broader audience, “those who would understand him” he ironically changes the story to enable those of his time to be able to understand him and relate to the story to which he half created. Seeing potential in the work of Prynne, Hawthorne gave her story life and meaning. He gave it authenticity but at the same time excitement. He gave it a full picture which many can look at and see more than a thousand words.