... as her own Reverend Dimmesdale cries out, "She will not speak!" and places his hand, for the first time, over his heart. This gesture will reappear and grow in significance during the course of the novel. However, this is also the same gesture that Hester Prynne makes when remembering the scarlet letter upon her own bosom. Hawthorne brilliantly connects Hester Prynne's openly displayed shame with Reverend Dimmesdale's secret ... previous revelations of truth into one. A person may reveal a hidden truth publicly, and at the same time reveal it to himself or herself, thus lifting the burd...

• Word Count: 2932
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School