Controversial Matters

 Thomas Hardy once described himself as a poet “who holds that if way to the Better there be, it exacts a full look at the Worst”.  
  He was highly critical of much in Victorian Society and tackled such controversial topics as aristocracy and lower class, religious view vs. agnostic argument and the horrors of war.  An example of the latter, and a particular favorite of mine, is below.  

"Had he and I but met

            By some old ancient inn,

We should have sat us down to wet

            Right many a nipperkin!

 But ranged as infantry,
     and staring face to face,
I shot at him as he at me,

     And killed him in his place.

 I shot him dead because —

         Because he was my foe,

Just so: my foe of course he was;

      That's clear enough; although

 "He thought he'd 'list, perhaps,

            Off-hand like — just as I —

Was out of work — had sold his traps —

            No other reason why.

   "Yes; quaint and curious war is!

            You shoot a fellow down

You'd treat if met where any bar is,

            Or help to half-a-crown."

  His two most controversial books were  Tess of the D'urbervilles and 
Jude the Obscure.   In these, he tackled head on, the difficult subjects of  education for only the upper class and a woman's virginity.    T. H's  books were burned in public squares and his name vilified.   After that, he stated that he would never pen another novel - which, much to the world's loss, he never did.    

  Which brings me to the all important question, "What is an author's responsibility,  as far as his/her belief system is concerned?"  
What is a human being's?   How much of a person's  opinion and hard-won core belief,  should he or she divulge?  
   When should a person remain silent and when should they speak up?