o notshow him doing this. He knows in his heart that he never really intendedto leave with her. It is likely that he knew he was dying already. Rightbefore Dimmesdale dies in Hester's arms, she asks him if they will spendeternity together. He replies that after their sin, "it was thenceforth vain tohope that we could meet hereafter in everlasting and pure reunion." Hethinks that he is going to heaven because of the suffering he has undergonefor his part in the sin. It can be inferred from this that he must think thatHester is going to Hell. He doesn't feel for her enough to realize that her suffering was as great, if not greater, than his own. Hester spends seven selfless years concerned with Dimmesdale's well-being, and he likewise spends seven years concerned about his well-being. He feels that his self-inflicted physical pain is enough to deliverhim from the guilt of their shared sin. She is willing to be punished in thislife and in God's kingdom for him, and really acknowledges no sin. Maybethe fact that Hester feels his pain so deeply, while he denies the existence of her pain, and concentrates solely on himself, proves that her love forhim is not returned. The meeting between Hester and Dimmesdale in the woods leftanother trail of crumbs behind Dimmesdale's lie. One of Hester's mostjoyous moments occurred when she was able to present her fellow sinnerhis creation. He reacted and said; "Thou canst not think, how my heartdreads this interview, and yearns for it!" Dimmesdale seems to dreadmeeting the symbol of his seven years of agony. And he looks at Pearl inthat image, as a monster he cannot face. The reason he yearns for the encounter is simple, he wants to free his soul before he is to die. He doesnot yearn for her presence to quench his anxiety towards absentfatherhood, which would be the motive taken by a caring person. Hawthorne's description of Dimmesdale's stroll out of the woodsand into the town gives an indication that Dim...
