Help with this page from the "Scarlett Letter" (long)?

Bear in mind writing styles back then were vastly influenced by Biblical doctrine; they umed the audiences would be able to keep up, and in most cases they could. Hawthorne painted a picture with his words, and at times less description could have sufficed, yet Hugo's 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' runs along similar lines. Sometimes it helps to take each sentence by itself and speak it aloud;savor the words, speak them slowly until the meaning becomes clearer. The symbolism is indeed heavy, but Hawthorne felt it necessary to complete his picture. If you think this is complicated pick up 'Henry the Fifth' and read a few pages; this page will suddenly become much more readable.