Entry 39:
"The sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something on your bosom."
Sunshine is like cheerfulness and happiness, but when someone sees the scarlet letter they're thoughts have more to do with sin or shame. If 'sunshine' runs away from Hester it's because it's scared it will be influenced by her. It also goes back to heaven and God who doesn't agree with sin, so instead stays away from those who have.
I haven't seen anyone compare the sunlight to cheerfulness and happiness, but your ideas work. Pearl is a very happy child, while Hester seems to get through each day. Light is connected to sin. Note the gray around Hester and Dimmesdale, the light around Pearl, and the black around Chillingworth.
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