critics are divided over hawthorne's attitude to hester's affair, and whether the novel ultimately condemns or condones her actions. what do you think hawthorne's views are? what are your own?

I think that Hawthorne was pretty sympathetic to his protagonist. He depicted the Puritans as largely an uptight hypocritical bunch. While Hester was a picture of beauty, grace and innocent suffering, the Puritans were an angry mean spirited bunch. Her daughter Pearl is a symbol of purity rather than the Puritan symbol of sin. I think Hawthorne knew what he was doing. Hester was a symbol of purity and grace because of her sin. She is a Christ-figure of sorts bearing the sins of the Puritans with humble patience as she showed real piousness by example.