When Hester and Dimmesdale meet in the forest, they discuss their true feelings about their experiences since Hester was branded with the scarlet letter. Hawthorne describes how, “No golden light had ever been so precious as the darkness of this dark forest” (192). The rare presence of light in this otherwise dark situation symbolizes the relief that both Hester and Dimmesdale feel after sharing the truth about Dimmesdale's torturous guilt and Hester's marriage to Chillingworth. In every scene preceding this one, the forest is associated with witchcraft, evil, darkness and secrets. This former association is contrasted by the shining of the sun on the sinful couple after they have revealed the last of their secrets. This scene represents a turning point in the novel and shows how, despite Hester and Dimmesdale's sin and the consequences they had to suffer for it, they are able to find some peace in the fact that they have confided in each other each other and fully admitted their sin.