Roger Chillingworth Monologue

Chillingworth will not bear the shame in regards to his unfaithful wife, nor be burdened with supporting and providing for her. He is truly a cruel and twisted man. This unfaithfulness to his wife is not his only shame; he also is responsible for the daily, mental torture of Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale. “She doubted not, that the continual presence of Roger Chillingworth, –the secret poison of his malignity, infecting all the air about him, –and his authorized interference, as a physician, with the minister’s physical and spiritual infirmities, –that these bad opportunities had been turned into a cruel purpose” (Hawthorne132).

Roxie and Hester’s husband also contrast each other. Roger Prynne, better known as Roger Chillingworth, later after his work at sea came back to a pregnant wife that he hasn’t seen in a very long time. Instead of helping Hester raise the child, he only cared for who preganted his wife and wanted to take revenge against him. Roger is also a manipulative, smart man who wasn’t going to let anything stop him at what he wants.Amos Hart, on the other hand, loved Roxie so much he was willing to try and take the blame for her murder against Frank Casely, until he later found out that she was having affair and then turn her in. Even after that he decided to help her get out and get her a lawyer. Then when he heard the news that Roxie was pregnant with a baby he was so happy and thought he was the father of this kid. After being lied and deceived by his wife. He still try to get her back. Amo was gullible when it came to Roxie, and would do anything for her..

Roger Chillingsworth is The Scarlet Letter's equlivilant to Temple's Belacour. He is the mastermind behind his wife Hester's demise, and intentionally seeks harm on her. In the beginning of the novel, he goes to visit her in jail. He tells her, "Live, therefore, and bear about they doom with thee, in the eyes of men and women - in the eyes of him whom thou didst call thy husband - in the eyes of yonder child!" (Letter, 70). All he wants is revenge and his mission changes from making Hester's life miserable, to finding out the identity of Pearl's father.

Knowing Roger Chillingworth's background, his role in the book as a symbol, and his obsession of torturing

This quote almost makes you feel sympathy in a way for Roger Chillingworth. It’s depressing.

He was Hester's husband and he never returned to her, which was shamed in the Puritan society. He didn't want anyone knowing his true identity, so he assumed the name Roger Chillingworth. Chillingworth is known as the greatest doctor in their town, and in many of the surrounding towns. He lives this life kind of to forget his previous sins and to keep others from finding out. Roger Chillingworth wanted to keep this secret forever and the name he had before "should never more be spoken."(Hawthorn 237). He also disclosed to Hester that he was trying to kill the priest. He described him as being a "miserable priest" (Hawthorn 343) and he tells Hester that he was dying "in the sight of his worst enemy." Hawthorn (344). He is angered that Hester had an affair and had Pearl with Dimmesdale and he seeks the worst revenge possible. These issues progress the piece because they make the it more complicated and the characters, as well. Freud states that people's actions are "influenced by their unconscious" and this is especially true in the Scarlet Letter.

Roger Prynne Chillingworth is the antagonist of the novel. His conflicts would seem different than the other main characters’ conflicts. For instance one internal conflict of his would be his thoughts of revenge. Chillingworth has this monomaniacal desire for revenge on the “unknown” father. His plans were

"Hester looked at the man of skill, and even then, with her fate hanging on the balance, was startled to perceive what a 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..." (Pg.103).  Hester is not the only person to notice the change in Chillingworth; many of the townspeople recognize the changes in him as well, "At first his expression had been calm, meditative, scholar-like. Now there was something ugly and evil in his face, which they had not previously noticed, and which still grew more obvious to sight the oftener they looked upon him" (Pg. 117). Slowly but surely Roger Chillingworth is changing from a man with normal interests, to a man with an evil obsession; every day he is getting closer and closer to the dark side.

Physically deformed and mysterious, Roger Chillingworth finally met his wife after being separated from her for almost two years.  He showed no great anger towards her and took upon himself some of the accountability saying it was “...my folly and thy weakness,” (Hawthorne 52) which was the cause of Hester's sin.  Chillingworth's only feeling was one of revenge towards the man who had been Hester's lover.  Chillingworth was obsessed by hate and revenge so much that when Dimmesdale died “... the life seemed to have departed...” (Hawthorne 72) from him and he died within a year of Dimmesdale's death.  Chillingworth never felt guilt or attempted repentance because he “... violated, in cold blood, the sanctity of a human heart.” (Hawthorne 133).  He sought to destroy Dimmesdale's

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

Chillingworth is not a very amiable character to the reader , but on the other hand he is a very shrewd and sharp person, with a

Roger Chillingworth could have chosen to kill Hester with the medicine in the cup he presented to her. This is why hester was heedful when she chose to drink the medicine. Roger’s truth was relative in this moment for hester did not know what his true intentions were, she could not be so naive as to think that Roger would not want revenge and would willingly cure her.

In the beginning of the story, Roger is away from homefor two whole years. Hester and many of the townspeople think Roger isdead. In this long period of sorrow, Hester is with another man and shecommits adultery. Just like Ahab, Roger Chillingworth was furious. He lookedvigorously for the man that impregnated his wife.

It is in these chapters that Roger Chillingworth seeks revenge on Arthur Dimmesdale. In other words, in these chapters Roger Chillingworth acts as a leech that feeds on Arthur Dimmesdale, the leech’s patient. Roger Chillingworth utilizes his cleverness and mentality by claiming that he is living with Arthur Dimmesdale strictly under medical reasons. However, Roger Chillingworth actually lives with Arthur Dimmesdale because of his dilating surmises of who Pearl’s father might be. Roger Chillingworth is able to use his cleverness and mentality in a way that he contrives an identity that permits him to actualize whatever he may desire. With his cleverness and mentality, Roger Chillingworth effectively achieves moral ambiguity.

Roger Chillingworth’s sin, however, was not in an instant. His was calculated, drawn out, and committed with malice towards both Dimmesdale and Hester for years on end. He tormented Dimmesdale psychologically for years, and drained what little life Dimmesdale had in him out slowly and intentionally.He felt no guilt for these sins, nor was he ever punished for them in life.