Final answer:
Nathaniel Hawthorne uses a reflective and somber tone in the first sentence of 'The Custom-House' that establishes a connection with the reader and sets up the themes of the novel.
Step-by-step explanation:
Tone in Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'Customhouse'
The tone used by Nathaniel Hawthorne in the opening sentence of 'The Custom-House,' which serves as the introduction to The Scarlet Letter, can be characterized as both reflective and somber. Hawthorne establishes an atmosphere for the narrative through detailed descriptions of the setting and the narrator's role within it. The text reflects deeply on the past, using a tone that seems detached yet filled with the nostalgia and personal sentiments of the narrator, which likely sets the stage for the themes of sin and expiation that the novel will explore.
In examining Hawthorne's choice of words, one notices he often employs a reflective and slightly melancholic tone, which encourages readers to engage with the historic and person-driven narrative that follows. Through this, Hawthorne creates a connection with the reader by expressing something important. This use of tone echoes the seriousness with which Hawthorne examines historical and personal themes throughout his work.