The hundreds of pages in a typical novel come together to form an intricate web, whose many strands may be united in the minds of readers to form infinitely different interpretations. In many cases, the authors' representation of their pet issues or most relevant commentaries are depicted by the style of rhetoric. Likewise, through the use of tone, diction, sentence structure, and imagery, Nathaniel Hawthorne's prime purpose in the excerpt from The Scarlet Letter is to foster in the conceiver's mind a poignant culmination of the potent affect ....