Scarlet Letter Pg. 147

Entry 35: 

"The child flew away like a bird"

This is a continues motif throughout the book between Pearl and birds, or Peal and elves which all have to do with nature. Being part of nature considers someone to be wild, and against the town's beliefs and expectations of no one being independent. Her parents are what broke the law, but she's outside of it, and the 'prison' of the town itself. She doesn't have to live like everyone else under the constraints of the society. She's free, like a bird. 

Scarlet Letter Pg. 142

Entry 34: 

"The scarlet letter had the effect of the cross on a nun's bosom."

The scarlet letter keeping her safe is one idea that could be possible. In this instance, the cross could symbolize redemption. People that believe that Christ died on the cross to wash away the sins of mankind, are redeemed in the eyes of God and will go to Heaven. The same idea goes for Hester by wearing the scarlet letter, and having Pearl to show her sin. Eventually her sins start dwindling away, and the A stands for something more than just an 'adulterer'. 

Scarlet Letter Pg. 141

Entry 33: 

"The letter was the symbol of her calling. Such helpfullness was found in her,-so much power to do, and power to sympathize,-that many people refused to interpret the scarlet letter A by its original signification. They said that it meant Able; so strong that Hester Prynne, with a woman's strength."

Able means having the power, skill, means, or opportunity to do something. Able is Hester's inner strength that helped her get through the past seven years with the shame of sin, and the judgement of the town and society that she lives in. People look up to her now, and respect her because she helps the town and the poor people even when sometimes, in return, they don't give the same back. It's noted that 'Her breast, with its badge of shame, was but the softer pillow for the head that needed one." She was understanding when people were troubled which people started admiring her for. It was no longer a sign of an 'adulterer' but someone who is 'able', it's a token of her many good deeds since. 

Scarlet Letter Pg 135

Entry 32:

"A light gleamed far and wide over the muffled sky."

At first, when it was only Dimmesdale, 'clouds muffled the whole expanse of sky from zenith to horizon'(pg129), but after Hester and Pearl had taken their place back on the scaffold, and Dimmesdale decided when to show the world their secret the sky lit up. 

"And there stood the minister, with his hand over his heart; and Hester Prynne, with the embroidered letter glimmering on her bosom and little Pearl, herself as a symbol, and the connecting link between the two...is if it were the light that is to reveal all secrets, and the daybreak that shall unite all who belong to one another."

Both Dimmesdale and Hester have A's that represent their shame. Pearl is the link between their shame, and who is the symbol of it. The light shows truth and for the first time, them as a family are shown together in it even though no one else is there to see it. 

Scarlet Letter Pg 130

Entry 31: 

"It is done! The whole town will awake, and hurry forth, and find me here!"

Dimmesdale shrieks in the middle of the night on the scaffold where he once saw Hester Prynne live through her hours of public ignominy. His remorse had driven him there, but what good does that do if it's when everyone in the town is sleeping? It makes him look like even more of a coward, and he continues to depend on the dark to hide his sins. He can't seem to make up his mind to wether he wants to come clean or continue hiding. 

"The drowsy slumberers mistook the cry either for something frightful in a dream, or for the noise of witches." 

It's ironic because maybe it wasn't a dream for them, but it was definitely a nightmare for Dimmesdale. Him screaming was music for the devil, and if people thought it was a noise of a witch, then it all is compared back to one another. 

Scarlet Letter Pg. 127

Entry 30:

"Sometimes, viewing his own face in a looking-glass, by the most powerful light which he could throw upon it. He thus typified the constant introspection wherewith he torture, but could not purify, himself"

The mirror can symbolize someone's physical and spiritual reflection. His introspection is his contemplation of his thoughts, feelings, and sensations. He's going through self-examination in the light to see if there's anything left that's pure. The torture is that even the most 'powerful' light can't purify him. It's saying that the only way to make himself better is to be honest, and it starts with himself. 

Scarlet Letter Pg. 125

Entry 29:

"It was inconceivable...it was his genuine impulse to adore the truth, and to reckon all things shadow-like...that had not its divine essence as the life within their life...Then what was he?-a substance?-or the dimmest of all shadows?... He longed to speak out, from his own pulpit, at the full height of his voice, and tell the people what he was...turn my pale face heavenward..I who have laid the hand of baptism upon your children..I who have breathed the parting prayer over your dying friends, to whom the Amen sounded faintly from a world which they had quitted..I your pastor, whom you so reverence and trust, am utterly a pollution and a lie!"

Dimmesdale wants and needs to be honest in order to survive, but he's not only afraid to lose his job and the respect of all the people in his society, but he doesn't want to cause Hester or Pearl any more pain. For not being honest earlier, he's embarrassed for hiding his secret for this long, and looks like a coward. He helped everyone in town, and they all listened to his sermons and took what he said into perspective. He's basically a fraud to the town, and is a hypocrite when saying that 'it was his genuine impulse to adore the truth, and to reckon all things shadow-like.' Shadows go back to the ability to hide the truth, and cover his lie. The shadows have sucked the life from him, and is now pale, but if he turns his face towards heaven, he will have to tell the truth and light will be shown upon him.