Compose a three-paragraph essay (short intro, long body section, short conclusion) to answer ONE of the following prompts. THIS PORTION OF THE TEST IS WORTH 30 POINTS, SO DO YOUR BEST

A. One of Hawthorne’s major themes is stated in the final chapter with these words: “Be true! Be true! Be true! Show freely to the world, if not your worst, yet some trait whereby the worst may be inferred.” Discuss the relevance of this statement to the meaning of the book. Support your argument with references to three major characters.

B. Setting is an important element of this novel. Consider how the scaffold, the marketplace, and the forest serve the function of unifying the structure of the novel as well as illuminating of contrasting main characters. What is Hawthorne’s overall message about setting and how is this illustrated through these three settings.