Based on how the narrator presents the setting and characters in this novel, what inference can you make about Hawthorne’s opinion of Hester Prynne?

Hawthorne presents the townspeople as harsh and judgmental, while Hester is shown as dignified, resilient, and compassionate despite their treatment of her. This contrast suggests that he sympathizes with Hester rather than sharing the townspeople’s condemnation. The correct choice is C: “He sympathizes with Hester, not the townspeople.”

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.