Chillingworth's Attack In Scarlet Letter

Chillingworth is physically becoming a monster which is noticed by Hester; “Hester Prynne looked at the man of skill, and even then, with her fate hanging in the balance, was startled to perceive what change had come over his features-- how much uglier they were-- how his dark complexion seemed to have grown duskier, and his figure more misshapen…” (Hawthorne 63). Also, as Chillingworth began to work with Dimmesdale, “At first his expression had been calm, meditative, scholar-like. Now, there was something ugly and evil in his face…” showing the commencement of his transformation (Hawthorne 78).Monomania for Dimmesdale establishes and affects his physical, physiological, and and emotional condition. During the Puritan times it was common in this type of society for a husband to punish an unfaithful wife, according to Branch; however, Chillingworth only wants to get revenge on Dimmesdale (146-147). His animosity starts to grow for Dimmesdale as he continues to work with and close to him, investigating Hester’s

Chillingworth’s desire for revenge for Dimmesdale in The Scarlet Letter greatly conflicts his moral duty as a self-proclaimed physician in Puritan Boston. This revenge began once Chillingworth suspected Dimmesdale of having intimate relations with Hester, although he never confronted him. Dimmesdale’s physical and mental health began to deteriorate once Chillingworth relentlessly tormented him, conveying the significance behind internal guilt and poor external health. It was also quite ironic how Chillingworth was seen as Dimmesdale’s mentor to the public, and although he was a physician whose friend was in failing health, his credibility was never questioned. This revenge was fueled by the betrayal of Hester, who was Chillingworth’s wife before he claimed a new identity and persona. According to Chillingworth, Dimmesdale could never suffer enough for what he’d done unless he’d faced it publicly, but once he did, Chillingworth had nothing to motivate his devious acts. The repugnant acts committed by Chillingworth claiming to be provoking Dimmesdale’s confession are absolutely influential to his failing health and significance in the book, "Better had he died at once! Never

He finds out it was Dimmesdale and then set out to torture him. “[Chillingworth] never set him free again until he has done all it’s bidding. He now dug into the poor clergyman’s heart” (Hawthorne 117). Hester tells Chillingworth to stop, but Chillingworth does not. He wants to get revenge on Dimmesdale. Because of this revenge, he loses Hester forever. Chillingworth tortures him in his own best interest. He is selfish. He wants Hester, even though Hester no longer loves him. Even after he has the chance to learn his lesson, Chillingworth still acts in his own interest. He learns that Dimmesdale and Hester are going to leave on a boat, and he books a ticket on the same boat, causing more problems for Hester and Dimmesdale. Chillingworth wants only what was in his own best interest, not what is better for others.

One of the various ways Chillingworth serves as the devil’s advocate is by being the antithesis of Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, the palpable Jesus figure of the narrative. Chillingworth keenly sets out to devastate Dimmesdale, as Hawthorne informs us when referring to Chillingworth's unearthing of Dimmesdale's secret, “All that guilty sorrow, hidden from the world, whose great heart would have pitied and forgiven, to be revealed to him, the

In Chapter 9, Chillingworth 's evil nature starts to show. As Dimmesdale suffers with the guilt of being Pearl 's father, Chillingworth acts as a physician who seems to be taking the life out of Dimmesdale even more. The townspeople are beginning to notice that there is"something ugly and evil starting in his face" (Hawthorne, 124). In chapter 10, this theme of evil continues with Chillingworth, for he continues to get worse. In this chapter, it is clear that Chillingworth 's goal of revenge is to increase Dimmesdale’s inner pain. Hawthorne describes Chillingworth as a "thief entering a chamber where a man lies only half asleep" (Hawthorne, 126) as a way to further symbolize his evilness. Chillingworth harasses Dimmesdale constantly about his secrets asking, "why not reveal them here?" (Hawthorne, 128). But even with all the nagging, Dimmesdale refuses to reveal what 's been making him sick on the inside. In chapter 11, Dimmesdale 's suffering only increases. His sermons hint at his sinful nature, but everyone is being mislead by them for they seem to think that Dimmesdale is even more holy. Dimmesdale is "tortured by some black trouble of the soul"(Hawthorne, 137) and yet, his hidden public confessions are misunderstood. However, Dimmesdale is aware of this, for "the minister well knew- subtle, but remorseful hypocrite- that he was"(Hawthorne, 141). In chapter 12, during the night, Dimmesdale stands on the scaffold, in which it can clearly be seen that

wanted Dimmesdale to suffer from guilt is when the author, Hawthorne, explains Chillingworth’s motives in becoming Dimmesdale’s physician. Hawthorne says that Chillingworth, being a man of skill, dove into the intellect of Dimmesdale looking for secrets and precious thoughts that might help him in the magnification of Dimmesdale’s guilt (114). The passage on 114 says nothing about Chillingworth wanting to kill Dimmesdale. Another part in the novel again suggests that Chillingworth had no intentions of poisoning Dimmesdale. During the last scaffold scene when Dimmesdale finally resolves to let his guilt be known to the town, Chillingworth says, “There was no one place so secret… where thou couldst have escaped me, --save on this very scaffold';(Hawthorne 230-231)! If Chillingworth were in fact slowly poisoning Dimmesdale to death, there would have truly been no place in the world where Dimmesdale could have escaped from Chillingworth not even on the scaffold.

In chapter ten, Chillingworth ruthlessly attempts to find the root of the Reverend’s condition. One day while they are conversing, Pearl and her mother pass by, Pearl is placing burrs on the scarlet letter of Hester’s bosom when she spots the minister, “She threw one of the prickly burrs at the Rev. Mr. Dimmesdale. The sensitive clergyman shrank, with nervous dread, from the light missile.” (84). Dimmesdale shies away from the burr as if he was shying away from Pearl. I think Pearl is representation of his guilt towards Hester, whenever he looks at Pearl he sees a reflection of sin that he fears. Later that night Dimmesdale falls asleep, but Chillingworth is still curious about the reverend. He sneaks into his room and takes a look at his chest where he has been clutching his heart.

This motivation drove his evil deeds. The other characters, while having made bad decisions, were not motivated by destruction, but rather lust, perhaps even love. The intent of Dimmsdale and Hester’s relationship and behavior was not to intentionally harm anyone. Conversely, Chillingworth is evil at heart. Chillingsworth’s sin is revenge and he it is whole intention inflict the most damage possible upon Dimmesdale. The fact that Hollingsworth’s goal is to cause others pain shows that he is evil. Another example of Chillingworth’s true nature can be found in chapter 14 “in a word, old Roger Chillingworth was a striking evidence of man’s faculty of transforming himself into the devil”(page 110). Chillingworth explains to Hester that his evil nature will not allow him to stop harming Dimmesdale. Perfect in his role as “The Leech”, Chillingworth is not only fueled by Dimmesdale’s suffering, but it is necessary for him to survive. Chillingworth's character cannot exist without causing others pain. Chillingsworth’s sadistic nature and the severe extent to which it controls and directs his life is a clear sign that Chillingworth is an evil person

Although Chillingworth doesn’t know if Dimmesdale is the one who committed the sin with Hester, he still interviews Dimmesdale as if he is a suspect for this sin:“It is as well to have made this step,” said Roger Chillingworth to himself, looking after the minister with a grave smile. “There is nothing lost. We shall be friends again anon. But see, now, how passion takes hold upon this man, and hurrieth out of himself! As with one passion, so with another! He hath done a wild thing ere now, this pious Master Dimmesdale, in the hot passion of his heart!”(125). Earlier in the book when Chillingworth is talking to Hester, Hawthorne describes a smile that the physician has that makes Hester wonder if he is like the Black Man. This smile is displayed again when Dimmesdale rushes out of the room. Chillingworth’s smiles seem to emulate his obsession. Everytime he is trying to find out who committed this sin, or even thinks about it, he smiles. This smile is described as grave, which means, giving cause for alarm. Chillingworth has said that he wants to ruin the soul of whoever committed the sin with Hester. The description of this smile was not meaningless; Chillingworth could already be suspecting Dimmesdale of this sin, and even plotting his revenge. Chillingworth also talks about passion, which is interesting because passion has been talked about when Hester is in the picture.

Context- in this excerpt from the chapter 10 Chillingworth has decided to help Dimmesdale with his “illness” which is supposedly being caused because Dimmesdale wont tell the public that he was the adulter in the case of Hester. This stress is overrunning him and making him weak. So he needed a doctor to make him better but they are no official doctors in the town since it is a new town in the new world. The closest thing to a doctor is Chillingworth, Chillingworth agree to help and the two move into together. Chillingworth Slowly finds out the the thing that is really make Dimmesdale sick is his guilt and he speculates that it has something to do with Hester. I believe that he comes to this conclusion based on his infatuation with the missing

Attempting to hide his past relationship with Hester Chillingworth changed his name. Dimmesdale is ill which is affecting his heart greatly. Chillingworth suggests that Dimmesdale lives with the doctor. The men live in a home near a cemetery previously owned by a widow. As time passes the citizens begin to get a satanic feel given off by Chillingworth. Chillingworth brings back a weed that Dimmesdale questions. Chillingworth states he found it upon someone's grave. Pearl pulls her mother away saying the black man has gotten the minister. Dimmesdale has a mark on his chest that makes the doctor happy. Chillingworth continues play tricks with Dimmesdale’s mind. Dimmesdale begins to have dreams which keep him awake. Dimmesdale blames himself because

fuel” and the fire seems to be coming from hell, which leaves a “sooty” visage on his

After their brief encounter Dimmesdale believes he has sold him himself or made a bargain with the Devil. When Dimmesdale finally reaches the comfort of his home, Chillingworth is there awaiting his arrival. Dimmesdale explains to the physician that he no longer has use for his medicines. Chillingworth fears that Dimmesdale has knowledge of his true identity and is now aware that he is “no longer a trusted friend, but his bitterest enemy” (184).

Dimmesdale regards Chillingworth, with distrust and even loathing. “...the minister, thought that he had constantly a dim perception of some evil influence watching over him...:,” it can be implicated that Dimmesdale is alluding to Chillingworth as the evil watching over him; This shows that Dimmesdale has started to see Chillingworth to be

Chillingworth is very anxious to get vengeance on Arthur, and the following quote displays this: “At his arrival in the marketplace,...very soon, however, his look became keen and penetrative.” (Hawthorne 8) This quote diagrams the mood of Chillingworth immediately. He already began to look at people with a look of keen and penetration. In chapter three, Chillingworth speaks to Dimmesdale non-venerably. “Must it be thou; or I, that shall deal with this poor sinner’s soul.” (Hawthorne 11) When Chillingworth says he’s going to deal with his soul, Chillingworth suggests that he’s going to seek his revenge upon him. Later in the chapter, we see Chillingworth get even more vengeful. “Live, therefore, and bear about thy doom with thee, in the eyes of men and women-in the eyes of him whom than didst call thy husband.” (Hawthorne 16) Again, we see Chillingworth’s desire to seek his revenge upon Dimmesdale. Chillingworth is a man of great vengeance, and this is clearly noted in the Scarlet