1. Why do you think authors include hidden messages (like morals of the story) in their story.
Like @TigerByTheToe said, I think some authors include hidden messages or morals for self-expression. When authors write stories, they sometimes put a little of themselves into the story. Others just like to write on themes.
1a. Do you think that they include it on purpose?
Some do, and others may be unintentional morals.
2. Do you yourself, like stories with clear morals.
I do like stories with morals, but they don’t necessarily have to be clear-cut morals.
3. Give an example of a story you read in which there was a hidden meaning.
Both The Daddy by Shyla and Speak by J. Miley have hidden meanings about having to go through the bad to get to the good in their respective ways. Everything happens for a reason to get you to the point in your life where you are at.
4. Does every story have a moral / hidden meaning / hidden message?
No. Some are just fun reads.
4a. Is this necessarily a good thing? Can it be a bad thing?
I don’t think it’s either.
5. Can a story ‘just be a story’?
Absolutely. A story doesn’t have to have a hidden meaning to be good.
6. Can a reader find a moral, totally different from the authors?
I remember when I was in high school and read The Scarlett Letter, I came away with a totally different meaning than my English teacher did. While stories can have multiple meanings, sometimes some morals are unintentional.