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Scarlet Letter Essay The Scarlet Letter is a fascinating read that describes every detail of a character’s actions and psyche. Two of the main characters that Hawthorne really provides physiological attributes for is Roger Chillingworth, and Reverend Dimmesdale. These two characters are the ones who the main conflict revolves around. In the story, Dimmesdale commits adultery with Chillingworth’s wife. Dimmesdale feel guilty and tortures himself physically and psychologically. When Chillingworth finds out, he decides to live with Dimmesdale as his personal doctor and uses this to psychologically torture him throughout the story. Nathaniel Hawthorne shows the psychological thinking of Roger Chillingworth and Arthur Dimmesdale in The Scarlet …show more content…
Where Chillingworth tortures Dimmesdale and Dimmesdale does not know and because his mind makes him feel guilt, he tortures himself psychologically and physically to deal with the pain. Dimmesdale feels guilty which leads him to carve an A into his chest and silently tortures himself and mentally ball himself up. When he finds out that Chillingworth was the one stalking him for seven years he gets furious and says, "We are not, Hester, the worst sinners in the world. There is one worse than even the polluted priest! That old man's revenge has been blacker than my sin. He has violated, in cold blood, the sanctity of a human heart. Thou and I, Hester, never did so!” (Hawthorne 183). Here, Dimmesdale feels that he has been violated and just wants to be forgiven in the eyes of God. Dimmesdale feels that Chillingworth is full of evil and revenge has clouded his brain from senses right and wrong. Dimmesdale claims that him and Hester’s sin have not made them as bad as Chillingworth. In his mind, however, he feels the need to do what is right so he does not feel influenced to do evil acts. When Dimmesdale dies after confessing, he feels complete because he lifts the weight of his sin off of his chest. When Chillingworth dies, however, it is quite the opposite, “–seemed at once to desert him; insomuch that he positively withered up, shrivelled away, and almost vanished from mortal sight, like an uprooted weed that lies wilting in the sun. This unhappy man had made the very principle of his life to consist in the pursuit and systematic exercise of revenge” (244). In this quote, Chillingworth’s drive to fulfill his mission to find Hester’s lover has failed. He tried to pursue his revenge and failed. His reason for living was to exact his revenge, and because Dimmesdale died he couldn’t exact his revenge. So, he shriveled up without a meaningful purpose in
[having] a wild look of wonder, joy, and horror? (135) at the same time. Hawthorne goes further beyond this description by comparing this sudden outburst of emotion to Satan?s ecstasy by saying that the only factor which ?distinguished [Chillingworth?s] ecstasy from Satan?s was the trait of wonder in it? (135). As the reader delves deeper into the book, we come to the conclusion that Dimmesdale is indeed the father of Pearl, the product of the horrendous sin consummated through Dimmesdale?s and Hester?s illicit affair. This point brings us back to Chillingworth?s reaction to realizing this earlier at the end of chapter ten. Although this shocking news explains why Chillingworth might have been angry or horrified, it does not clarify why Chillingworth did not attempt to murder or poison Dimmesdale whilst he had the chance, especially since the reader knows from a point made by Chillingworth earlier in the book, that after Chillingworth had sought out the man who had an affair with his Hester, he would have his long sought-after revenge (73).
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter is a study of the effects of sin on the hearts and minds of the main characters, Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, Roger Chillingworth. Hester, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth. Sin strengthens Hester, humanizes Dimmesdale, and turns Chillingworth into a demon.
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter many aspects of evil and sin are reflected through the characters Arthur Dimmesdale and Roger Chillingworth. Dimmesdale and Chillingworth made their own choice of being a sinner and being evil. Therefore, that is what Hawthorne believed to be the definition of evil and sin; an individual chooses to do an action that is considered sinful. Although Dimmesdale and Chillingworth both portray evil and sin they portray it in two completely different forms. Dimmesdale is shown as being a secret sinner throughout the novel, but with the evil torturing that he receives from Chillingworth and himself it drives him to the point where he then becomes a public sinner. It is better for an individual to confess their sin than to bury it deep down.
Dimmesdale is not aware Hester’s husband is alive and seeking revenge on him. Chillingworth does not realize that the man he is searching for is the pastor. Thus, Dimmesdale is occupying a very precarious position, even though he is not aware of it. Revealing himself to be Hester’s partner would undoubtedly incite the wrath of Chillingworth on himself, but his condition is so serious and his strength so weak that he may not be able to live much longer either. Chillingworth’s intellect and skill suggests that he will be a dangerous influence for Dimmesdale once he finds out the pastor’s secret. The reader knows of their volatile situation and the potential consequences of them discovering the other’s secret, but does not know when or the extent of the consequences. However, as indicated by the difference in their personalities, the result will likely be the demise of Dimmesdale. This uncertainty of what is to come as a result of the dramatic irony in the situation between Dimmesdale and Chillingworth creates
The author conveys a message of forgiveness over revenge. Chillingworth dedicates his life to exacting revenge on Dimmesdale. At the conclusion of the novel, however, Hester and Dimmesdale recognize that Chillingworth’s sin is worse than their own. Hester and Dimmesdale perceive Chillingworth as the embodiment of Satan, as the evil and hateful revenge corrupted him and transformed him into a malicious entity.
No matter what Dimmesdale does, or where he goes, he cannot escape the chilling presence of the two. Chillingworth is there to find the truth and he wants to find the man who had an affair with his wife. Suspecting Dimmesdale, Chillingworth strives to be with him at all times. Because Chillingworth is a doctor, and Dimmesdale is obviously sick, it is encouraged that Chillingworth stays with Dimmesdale for health reasons. The idea is turned into reality and Chillingworth moves in with Dimmesdale, never leaving his side. Wanting to escape reality, Hester and Dimmesdale make plans to run away. They would do so by getting on a ship that was set to sail east to England. Considering the idea that one cannot run from there guilt, it is obvious Dimmesdale could not escape his most hindering inner thoughts. Just like Dimmesdale’s guilt would stick with him through his travels, so would Chillingworth. Knowing of their plans, Chillingworth arranges a way to join Dimmesdale and Hester on their escape journey to England. Chillingworth is a clear representative for Dimmesdale's undeniable
...d in acts to try and please God or whom ever they wish to gain forgiveness from. Most people naturally tie depression to death; people in this stage will experience sadness, regret, and fear of what is to come. The final stage is acceptance, this stage is very straightforward, it is in this stage that the individual realizes their fate and are okay with it and what they have done. (Elisabeth Kübler-Ross -Five Stages of Grief, Business Balls). Dimmesdale is a very, very troubled man to say the least. Throughout The Scarlet Letter Dimmesdale is shown going through the five stages of grief, he lets his sin rule and control his life and lets it ultimately lead to his demise.
Most importantly, Dimmesdale rejects his sin and resolves not to do it again. “In Mr. Dimmesdale’s secret closet, under lock and key, there was a bloody scourge” (131). He is causing his own suffering, clearly showing that he regrets what he did and feels very guilty about it. The whipping is meant as his punishment, and that, along with his psychological torture and Chillingworth’s constant provocation, acts as a constant reminder of what he did and not to do it again. Also, his suffering could be seen as God’s plan for him and his mortal punishment. Dimmesdale believes this and his dying words are: “God knows; and He is merciful! He hath proved his mercy, most of all, in my afflictions. By giving me this burning torture to bear upon my breast!...Had either of these agonies been wanting, I had been lost for ever!” (235). His suffering is actually a blessing because without it he would have had even more eternal suffering. In a way, he has been living through purgatory and, with this final confession, is liberated. And ultimately, his suffering brings him back to God. This is illustrated at the end of the novel, when Dimmesdale finally chooses to confess on the scaffold rather than escape to the old world with Hester. This must have been prompted by his ‘prolonged suffering’, which steered him to the right choice by choosing out of true remorse and repentance rather than
The theme Hawthorne builds up in Chillingworth is not simply his pain and torment. It is a more important representation of the weakness in the values of the people in Puritan times, and how their perseverance for "justice" skewed their views on life and forgiveness. Because of his mindset, Chillingworth torments himself with his goal to destroy Dimmesdale just as much as Dimmesdale tortures himself for their seven years together. Chillingworth is ruining his own life and does not realize it, because he no longer sees the value in life as he tries to ruin one.
At one moment during their conversation Hester sees a “a glare of red light out of [Chillingworth’s] eyes” noticing just how connected he has become to the devil (148). The sin Hester and Dimmesdale committed has not gone unnoticed by the devil and Chillingworth appears to symbolize a sort of messenger for the demon. She says even when he smiles it cannot hide his true nature and the blackness of his charred soul. His whole being is on fire because of how vengeful he feels toward the impure actions committed by Hester and Dimmesdale. His natural lean towards being a man of science rather than a man of religion also sparks this blackness. Dimmesdale is the exact opposite of Chillingworth, and that is why it makes him so angry. Before this conversation with Hester he spent seven years with Dimmesdale trying to cure him with his use of black medicine all while knowing the cause of his pain and that it cannot be fixed with medicine. The presence of the devil within him causes pain within everyone whom he seeks revenge. Chillingworth’s sole purpose is to do the Devil’s work in this scenario. Their location also speaks significance as later in the story it is revealed that the “Black Man”, referring to the Devil, lives within the woods. Thus, Chillingworth is a full pawn of the Devil seeking revenge in a sinful
Even though Hester and Dimmesdale have sinned gravely as well, there is a key difference between them and Chillingworth. Along with Hester, Dimmesdale feels guilty for his sin. The only reason he does not admit it is because he is naïve and fears judgment of her peers more than that of God. On the other hand, Chillingworth knows he has done wrong, but he doesn’t care and shows no remorse for his actions. Close to the end of the novel, Chillingworth says to Hester, “I have left thee to the scarlet letter….If that have not avenged me, I can do no more” (Hawthorne 161). Chillingworth is so ruthless and evil that he even desired revenge against his wife. Not only does he leave her to the scarlet letter, he makes sure it had fulfilled his desire. Lastly, at the very end of the novel, as Dimmesdale dies on the scaffold, he yells to Chillingworth, "May God forgive thee….Thou, too, hast deeply sinned!” (Hawthorne 240). Small things, such as this quote, emphasize to the reader how serious Chillingworth’s sins
When Chillingworth learns that Dimmesdale was the man who commits the adulteress act with his wife he becomes fixated on getting revenge. His thirst for revenge was the only objective on his mind “This unhappy person had effected such a transformation by devoting himself, for seven years, to the constant analysis of a heart full of torture, and deriving his enjoyment thence,” (Hawthorn 157). Due to his fixation on revenge Chillingworth’s physical features have declined as he is now appearing as a mere replica of the devil as he begins embracing the evil that lurks within him. Dimmesdale has no other objectives each day besides causing chaos and this takes a toll on his body. After Dimmesdale delivers his sermon Chillingworth attempts to stop Hester and Dimmesdale from sharing the truth about their relationship in fear that they become happier than him. As Chillingworth rushes to the marketplace and his appearance is noted as he “thrust himself through the crowd, --or perhaps, so dark, disturbed, and evil was his look, he rose out of another region, --to snatch back his victim from what he sought to do!,” (235). Now, there is no point of return for Chillingworth not a glimpse of his previous self can be found in the fiend standing in the marketplace. The devil has crawled into his heart clutching it, causing his physical
When the reader first meets Roger Chillingworth standing watching Hester on the scaffold, he says that he wishes the father could be on the scaffold with her. “‘It irks me, nevertheless, that the partner of her iniquity should not, at least, stand on the scaffold by her side” (46). At this point, Chillingworth wishes that Mr. Dimmesdale was also receiving the sort of shame Hester is being put through. Throughout the first few chapters of the novel, however, Chillingworth’s motives become more and more malicious. By the time Chillingworth meets Hester in her prison cell, he has decided to go after Mr. Dimmesdale’s soul. Chillingworth turns to this goal because Mr. Dimmesdale did not endure Hester’s shame on the scaffold. Had Mr. Dimmesdale chosen to reveal himself at the time of Hester’s shame, he would not have had to endure the pain of Roger Chillingworth’s tortures of his soul.
Roger Chillingworth makes it his life’s purpose to seek out Hester’s partner and make him pay for his sin. However, Chillingworth’s underlying motivation for retribution is entrenched in his love for Hester. Although Chillingworth attaches like a “leech” (75) to Dimmesdale and wants more “revenge than any mortal had ever wreaked upon an enemy” (145), Chillingworth’s extreme desire for vengeance is rooted in his extreme love for Hester and therefore his actions are vindicated. Chillingworth is “most deeply and irreparably injured” (77) from Hester’s act of adultery and “lived in vain” (77). However, Chillingworth conceals the fact that he is Hest...
As the novel progressed, Chillingworth fits the profile of ‘vengeance destroys the avenger’. When Roger Chillingworth is first introduced to the reader, we see a kind old man, who just has planted the seeds for revenge. Although he did speak of getting his revenge, when Hester first met her husband in her jail cell, she did not see any evil in him. Because Hester would not tell him who she had slept with, Chillingworth vowed that he would spend the rest of his life having his revenge and that he would eventually suck the soul out of the man, whom she had the affair with. “There is a sympathy that will make me conscious of him. I shall see him tremble. I shall feel myself shudder, suddenly and unawares” (Hawthorne, 101) As the novel develops, Roger Chillingworth has centered himself on Arthur Dimmesdale, but he cannot prove that he is the “one.” Chillingworth has become friends with Dimmesdale, because he has a “strange disease,” that needed to be cured; Chillingworth suspects something and begins to drill Dimmesdale. “… The disorder is a strange one…hath all the operation of this disorder been fairly laid open to me and recounted to me” (Hawthorne, 156).