"It was fear, and tremulously, and, as it were, by a slow, reluctant necessity, that Arthur Dimmesdale put forth his hand, chill as death, and touched the chill hand of Hester Prynne. The grasp, cold as it was, took away what was dreariest in the interview. They now felt themselves, at least, inhabitants of the same sphere." ((Chapter 17/PAGE 166))
Arthur's hand: 'Chill' = 'Death'
Hester's hand: 'Chill' = 'Death'
Both are being tormented emotionally and spiritually by CHILLingworth who is hoping to privately guilt them to death, more notable Arthur than Hester. The private guilt he hopes to cause both of them has frozen them both and hurts their emotions. Yet, when they come together, and embrace the guilt, making it public and known, the warm hold between the two cancels out the coldness and allows them both to cope with their previous sin. They feel that they are in the same sphere when they are within each others' hands which allows them to be free from the pain of private shame and renders Chillingworth's efforts useless. Hester and Arthur felt like themselves with this contact; their love setting them apart from the society and reuniting themselves with nature (This taking place in the forest strongly suggests this as well.). They have essentially broken free of the religious culture and have become their own people, reconnecting themselves with happier spirits. Their eventual leave to England places them further from such a horrid, sad place.
Nice insights into word choice here and how it relates to higher ideas.
ReplyDelete