Chapters 17-20 Scarlet Letter

     The first thing I noticed within chapter 17 was the rapid transitioning of Hester and Dimmesdale's
relationship from cold and informal to friendly and semi-romantic. Hawthorne notes how Dimmesdale, "put forth his hand, chill as death, and touched the child hand of Hester Prynne" (174). Considering the context of their relationship, I expected their reunion to be amiable and affectionate, yet Hawthorne sets up a contrast here, as what follows is a discussion of their romantic indiscretions and their mutual decision to flee from their Puritan society. Their conversation progresses from one filled with awkwardness and shame to one of hope and love.
     One theme I was interested in was the connection of Hester and Pearl to the natural world and order. When conversing with Dimmesdale, Hester refers to their relationship as a "consecration" (178) instead of a sin, indicating that Hester believes their romance to be sacred and heavenly, regardless of its inconsistencies with the Bible. In comparison, Dimmesdale condemns the actions of Chillingsworth, even saying Chillingsworth's "revenge has been blacker than my sin" (178). Hester and Dimmesdale justify their actions because they were natural and born out of passion. Chillingsworth, however, is characterized as evil because his behavior was inhumane.
     I was pleased to see that Hester has taken off the scarlet letter and that her old radiance and beauty returned to her. Hawthorne notes that after Hester took off the letter, she "heaved a long, deep sigh, in which the burden of shame and anguish departed from her spirit... She had not known the weight, until she felt the freedom!" (186). Hester, who has endured 7 years of judgement and shame, has freed herself from the burden of the scarlet letter.
     Relatedly, Pearl, who is the product of an organic love, also continues to be found interacting with nature. As Hester and Dimmesdale are speaking, Pearl is enjoying her time in the wild. Hawthorne notes that even the flowers speak to Pearl, saying, "Adorn thyself with me, thou beautiful child" (188). Because of Pearl's connection to nature and her freedom from the constraints of society, I wonder how she will interact with Dimmesdale later on in the book. I have a feeling Pearl will be apprehensive about accepting Dimmesdale, as when Hester and Dimmesdale urge Pearl to cross the creek, she refuses to do so until Hester puts the A back on.
     I fear that the relationship between Dimmesdale and Hester is threatened by Pearl, who also happens to be the thing that keeps them tied together. Similarly, I wonder about the assurance of Dimmesdale's decision to reunite with his Hester and Pearl. Pearl asks, "Doth he love us?... Will he go back with us, hand in hand, we three together, into the town?"(194). I am unsure if this is foreshadowing, and wonder if the three will follow through on their plans. Considering the events of the last chapter, I am curious to know if Dimmesdale's decision to leave will be his moral undoing.
Also, it is so clear that Dimmesdale does not have half the emotional strength of Hester Prynne.