the modern eye. Also, "The Custom House" is what basically leads the reader to understand how the story ofHester Prynne came to the narrator's ear.

It is common knowledge that Nathaniel Hawthorne, in adding "The Custom House" toThe Scarlet Letteras an introduction, did it mostly to extend the length of the narrative and also to lighten up the main idea, since the novel was sure to cause a reaction in his intended audience. As a result, many students wonder what is the worth of reading "an added piece" that neither adds nor takes away from the sequence of events that occur in the novel; it is an appendix of a sort which completes and enhances the narrative.

However, in order to experience the dramatic and literary contrast between the old and the new (new, meaning 19th century standards versus those of the 17th century where the novel is set) "The Custom House" is quite recommended to be read.

As it starts, "The Custom House" is told in first person (presumably it is Hawthorne himself speaking) and tells the story of how the narrator, who once successfully published his experiences when he used to live in an Old Manse, was asked to write again about his experiences working at the Custom House.

As added details, Hawthorne describes the salient traits of some of the people whom he remembers the most, up until his labors at the Custom House cease, giving him the time to put together the curious story that he had been told about Hester Prynne. This device is quite a clever way to add realism to the story, and to move it from fiction to (almost) folklore.

Hawthorne also builds momentum forThe Scarlet Letterthrough "The Custom House" because he explains how he came about the scarlet letter itself, which he found stuffed between a number of other items. The narrator imagines that these items that he found used to belong to a time where "something huge" must have occured that compelled the safekeeping of such a token as a scarlet letter, which by now has lost what seems to once have been glitter and ribbons.

 Finally, Hawthorne warns the reader about the dangers of labeling and judging others, reminding us how likely history is to repeat itself if we do not correct the mistakes that slowed our path to greater knowledge.

Therefore, it is up to the reader whether they wish to skip "The Custom House", however, an advice would be to at least read it, even if it is after reading the novel, because you may experience the "full circle effect" once you read about how this unnamed narrator "stumbled upon" Hester's story.

For the purposes of introducing the novel, "The Custom-House" offers a conceit for telling the story of Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale's doomed romance. The narrator finds the embroidered letter "A" that marked Hester as an adultress; moreover, he finds a manuscript that recorded the events of the seventeenth-century drama that played out in Salem. One purpose that "The Custom-House" serves is to provide a frame for the ensuing story. It also introduces the vaguely supernatural motif of the letter's power as the narrator holds the embroidered cloth to himself and feels a burning sensation.

A second purpose that "The Custom-House" serves is to allow Nathaniel Hawthorne to critique the corruption and incompetence of the Salem custom-house. Hawthorne had served as a customs officer in Salem before losing the position for political reasons, and his time in the post enabled him to see clearly that the mostly elderly men who filled their days in nominal positions were there only because of family connections. Hawthorne had many ill feelings about the Puritan past because of his great-grandfather's involvement as a judge during the Salem witch trials, and the emptiness of his own position in the customs office informed many of the critical views of the narrator of both "The Custom-House" and The Scarlet Letter.

Much argument has taken place over the importance of “The Custom House” in Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. Certainly, most high school students probably find it somewhat dense compared to the rest of the narrative. As a result, many high school teachers skip this section of the novel in their teaching.

This fact is unfortunate as “The Custom House” really sets the stage for the rest of the novel. In it the reader is introduced to the narrator, who shares many similarities with Nathaniel Hawthorne.  These similarities are so numerous that one can argue that it is actually Hawthorne narrating the tale even though the narrator never truly identifies himself. Indeed much controversy ensued after the original publication of the novel. Many of Hawthorne’s political enemies criticized “The Custom House” as they viewed this section as a personal attack from Hawthorne. Beyond the narrator, the introduction also relates how Hester Prynne’s story came to be discovered and how the story became a romance.

Likewise, “The Custom House” establishes the seemingly self-righteous tone that the narrator uses throughout the story. The criticism the narrator has for the political machinery and custom house employees of the early nineteenth century is soon transferred to the magistrates and townspeople of late seventeenth-century New England. Thus, the introduction to this novel is exactly what it should be and for that reason should also be read, studied, and taught along with the primary narrative.

I think Hawthorne does this to prove he has gone to great lengths to research for his writing before he put it in context. He hopes to validate and give credibility to the expertise he has in creating a historical novel for we the readers.

The Custom House he spent time in had stacks and stacks of old papers and records. One item he found in particular gave him great motivation for the book:

But the object that most drew my attention, in the mysterious package, was a certain affair of fine red cloth, much worn and faded. There were traces about it of gold embroidery, which, however, was greatly frayed and defaced.

After revealing that this displayed a particular letter 'A', the author later notes that he found more twisted papers that gave explanation for the letter:

There were several foolscap sheets containing many particulars respecting the life and conversation of one Hester Prynne... prying further into the manuscript, I found the record of other doings and sufferings of this singular woman.

The sufferings and doings he learned of give credence to Hawthorne's account entitled The Scarlet Letter. He is trying to point out with the Custom House that he journeyed and learned about the real life person who was Hester.