The Scarlet Letter
Chapter Seventeen
Entry Thirty-Three
Hester and Arthur meet in the forest. Pearl is sent away to play somewhere alone. The first thing they say is asking each other whether they are alive. An untypical beginning of a conversation, but for them it might be the most important thing to know. They want to make sure that it is not only a "hollow body" (the mind already died because of its pain). After that, Dimmesdale touches Hester's hand; this movement is breaking an imaginary spell lying over them. Although their hands are both "chill as death" (any energy was sucked out), it recreates their old connection. Now they are able to talk about their feelings.
"chill as death", energy sucked out - BY THE LEECH?
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