What is the purpose of The Scarlet Letter novel

The title The Scarlet Letter is significant because it symbolizes the sin, shame and redemption of the whole story. The opening scene was used to explain the shame that being a sinful adulteress brought upon Hester Prynne, and what the letter "A" represented.

I got a different answer

Perhaps the foremost purpose of The Scarlet Letter is to illustrate the difference between shaming someone in public and allowing him or her to suffer the consequences of an unjust act privately.