When Hester and Dimmesdale meet in the forest to speak to one another, Dimmesdale seems, in many ways, a broken man. Hester confesses to him that Chillingworth, Dimmesdale's housemate and doctor, is actually her long-missing husband. Dimmesdale becomes outraged at her for keeping the secret and allowing this man to take such a toll on his heart. She begs his forgiveness, and she tells him that he must no longer live with Chillingworth, but Dimmesdale...
When Hester and Dimmesdale meet in the forest to speak to one another, Dimmesdale seems, in many ways, a broken man. Hester confesses to him that Chillingworth, Dimmesdale's housemate and doctor, is actually her long-missing husband. Dimmesdale becomes outraged at her for keeping the secret and allowing this man to take such a toll on his heart. She begs his forgiveness, and she tells him that he must no longer live with Chillingworth, but Dimmesdale doesn't see a way out of it. Chillingworth is so strong and Dimmesdale has become so weak; Hester cries when she realizes how weak he has become. Dimmesdale insists that "The judgment of God is on [him]" and that he can no longer bear it. Hester then tells him that "'Heaven would show mercy" if he could just find the "strength to take advantage of it." She goes on to explain how simple it would be for them to run away together, to leave and go somewhere they are not known; they could give themselves new names and construct new identities, and live together in happiness and peace. This would be Heaven's mercy: to finally be able to be together somewhere where "the yellow leaves will show no vestige of the white man's tread." In other words, Hester wants him to run away with her.
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