The Scarlet Letter : Chapters 16 & 17

1. The Scarlet Letter:Chapters 16 & 17 Chapter 16: A Forest Walk Hester awaits for Dimmesdales arrival with Pearl in the forest, because she wants to tell him the truth about Chillingworth. (Hester has heard Dimmesdale would be passing through the forest.) Pearl claims “the sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something on your bosom.” The sunshine is symbolic for hope, innocents, light; the sunlight ‘hides from Hester” because it is showing she is not innocent, and the sunlight stays with Pearl because she is a child, still having her innocence. In the forest Pearl has asked her mother about the “Black man” that she overheard from the old woman, she tells her mother that the scarlet letter is the mark of the “Black man” Hester wanting her privacy she attempt to get Pearl to run off and play in the woods but she won’t because she claims she is afraid of the “black man.” Dimmesdale arrives, but Pearl thinking it is the “Black man”, Hester says “It is no Black Man! … It is the minister!” Pearl once again points out Dimmesdale clutching his heart, asking if the “Black man” had left his mark on his breast.” Chapter 17:  The Pastor and His Parishioner As Dimmesdale arrives in the forest he recognizes Hester’s scarlet letter before even knowing it was Hester. This is saying how strongly Hester’s scarlet letter shins through herself. This is the first time in seven years Dimmesdale and Hester are meeting face to face , reconnecting with each other. Dimmesdale and Hester sit down where Pearl and her self were sitting before, hand in hand, then Hester finally tells Dimmesdale the truth about Chillingworth that he is her husband. Dimmesdale quickly goes ahead and attempts to blame Hester for everything that has happen to him, and why he can not find peace with himself, when really he is the one to blame being unable to find it in himself to admit to the town. After Hester begging for his forgiveness Dimmesdale tells her he was wrong and that he does forgive her, telling her “May God forgive us both!” also pointing out the fact that they are not the worst sinners it is Chillingworth who has sinned the worst. Hester tells him he needs to tell Chillingworth to leave so he can not torment him anymore. Dimmesdale proclaiming he can not go on, that he will not be free of this until he is dead, saying that he must die here in the forest . Dimmesdale says he does not have the courage to go on alone, but Hester tells him he will not be alone