A Flood of sunshine

Hester's decision to cast off the scarlet letter and leave town is a proclamation of freedom. The freedom to live and seek happiness. For Dimmesdale.... it's pure joy. The joy of being himself, claiming his daughter, casting away shame, and truly living, all while glorifying God in a new way.

“Do I feel joy again?” cried he, wondering at himself. “Methought the germ of it was dead in me! O Hester, thou art my better angel! I seem to have flung myself—sick, sin-stained, and sorrow-blackened—down upon these forest-leaves, and to have risen up all made anew, and with new powers to glorify Him that hath been merciful! This is already the better life! Why did we not find it sooner?”