The Scarlet Letter
Chapter Eighteen
Entry Forty-Five
The most important symbol in chapter eighteen is the light coming back when Hester takes off in addition to the letter her cap. Then there were two things going on at the same time: Hester comes back to her long-forgotten beauty, and finally looks like a woman again. Her eyes start to shine and shimmer and reflect the power coming over her. And suddenly her skin is not pale as death anymore but her cheeks start to blush. She looks like young lady who is full of energy and has a lot of love to give. And as soon as Hester starts to glow it seems she breaks the spell of nature. Before this it was, like Hester, trapped in darkness and forced to whisper sad tales. Now that Hester shines in new splendor she carries nature along to follow suit. Sunlight breaks through the heavy shelter of the woods turning all the sad and grim colors into powerful and gleaming colors.
Although the trigger for this happening is the taking off of the "A" and letting Hester's hair down, the actual reason for this is Dimmesdale's and Hester's love revival. It is the strongest emotion existing on earth and able to change everything.
Releasing herself from the "A" - the power of the "A" - allows her this freedom, but it is Dimmesdale's love that is the key to this lock! Good insights.
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