In any work of literature, dramatic events can be analyzed to help further the knowledge of a work’s purpose, theme, and characters. Moments of such intensity have a monumental impact upon factors in a story and often reveal motivations and influences of a character. In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Roger Chillingsworth plays a significant role in the story with his constant acts of cruelty. By studying his actions, we can understand his hidden emotions, his impact upon others, and his position’s connection to the human condition.
Roger Chillingsworth was a cruel man to Hester but mostly Dimmesdale. Slowly he crept his way into dimmesdale’s life so that he could torture him the worst possible way without Dimmesdale's even knowing
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Chillingsworth came back for revenge on Dimmesdale and Hester because she had an affair with him. This shows the theme of the book, how sin affects one another and how we choose to handle it. Chillingsworth is on the receiving end of another person’s sin and in return he handles it the negative way. His motives are strictly to find pleasure in another person’s pain in order to feel some sort of justice for the initial hurt he felt. Later he finds that revenge is not the solution, because Dimmesdale found his own different solution for his pain in a way that didn't affect others. He confessed his sins in front of the whole community without any regard to the public shame he will immediately receive. This worked for him because it was a way to lighten his weight and clean his heart. This is a fault in our society because we spend so much time making life harder for others, believing it will make us feel better when in reality it only makes matters worse for everyone. We need to remember how each act of cruelty can affect another person, and just like the theme of The Scarlet Letter, the impact upon others all depends on how you choose to handle your own reactions. Anything can happen to us in this world, and sin is expected since we are fallen creatures, the only thing we have control over is how we choose to react to every event. You can be positive like Dimmesdale and look for a every chance of recovery or you can take your anger out on others, like
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
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
In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne's writing style illustrates Roger Chillingworth's decline in humanity due to his excessive need for revenge. Seeking revenge, more satisfying than accepting the truth, always consumes a person's mind and leads to negative behaviors. Hawthorne uses diction to implicate Chillingworth's character by expressing bleak and mysterious words throughout The Scarlet Letter. From the beginning of the novel “trust me good jailer”, Hawthorne creates Chillingworth's character as curious and devious through his actions towards Hester Prynne.(68) He uses these words to show what his values are as a person and how he acts normally.
Roger Chillingworth and Arthur Dimmesdale are both different people. Roger Chillingworth is a doctor but people called them leeches back then. Arthur Dimmesdale is a pastor of the church. Chillingworth and Dimmesdale are one of the main characters on the story. They only have one thing in common which is that they both are involved with Hester Prynne. Roger Chillingworth is her husband while Arthur Dimmesdale is the father of her child.
Roger Chillingworth’s actions alone can be considered as evil or immortal. Roger Chillingworth is Hester Prynne's husband. Who had been assumed dead because he never showed up to meet Hester. During the time he was gone he was learning native American medical practices. When Chillingworth came to the Puritan society to find out that his wife has had someone else's baby.
Hawthorne uses the setting of Dimmesdale's house to show the contrast between Chillingworth's public appearance and his true self. However, the setting of Dimmesdale's house presents itself as the line dividing two similar, yet different ideas: sin and good. The battle for dominance between these two ideas tipped in the favor of evil when Chillingworth looked upon Dimmesdale's chest, revealing Chillingworth's true fascination and obsession with his revenge, as he rejoiced (add in reaction quote) upon seeing the mark on Dimmesdale's chest. Before Chillingworth looked upon Dimmesdale's chest, Chillingworth portrayed a public image of friendliness, but once isolated in the home of Dimmesdale, Chillingworth unveils his true self as no one is around
In Nathanial Hawthorne’s famous standard of American literature, The Scarlett Letter, Hawthorne examines individual cases of sin occurring within society known for its intolerance of sin and strict religious principles, the Puritans. In The Scarlet Letter , each of the main characters, whether protagonist or antagonist, are guilty of a sin or form of “evil”. However, one character stands out from the rest. This character is guilty of the worst form of malice and evil in the entire book. His name is Roger Chillingworth. By reviewing his sinful actions, motivations and personality, as well as the different symbols Hawthorne creates to represent him, the true extent of Chillingworth's evil becomes apparent.
Chillingworth when first introduced seemed to be an innocent man as he must have been heart broken hearing from another woman that his wife cheated on him and had a child with another man. Upon hearing this news, he sought out to seek revenge on the Hester’s mister who ran around town right under all the townspeople's noses. Chillingworth’s sin occurs simultaneously during the time which he goes to help Dimmesdale when he first becomes sick and acts like a leech. The townspeople believed he was there to help Dimmesdale when he was actually lying to only try to get his revenge on Dimmesdale, not to save him. With this said, they had the right to doubt his presence but yet could not deny his skill and knowledge about medicine as it gave Dimmesdale more time on Earth.
To begin with, nearing his death Dimmesdale realizes that he and Hester Prynne “are not… the worst sinned in the world. There is one even worse than even the polluted priest” (150) and that is Roger Chillingworth. Roger Chillingworth is Dimmesdale’s antagonist who works hard to make Dimmesdale’s life as miserable as can be, but ironically, Chillingworth makes Dimmesdale feel better. The severity of Dimmesdale’s sin of adultery pales in comparison to Chillingworth’s sins (among many things) of betrayal, lying, and torture, and therefore allows Dimmesdale to forgive himself and embraces him with the idea that there is still a chance for the mercy of God. Additionally, Dimmesdale regains his missing “look in which hope and joy shone out” (154) with the help of Hester Prynne.
Roger Chillingworth, Hester Prynne’s husband, is so angry and hurt by his wife’s infidelity that he decides to seek revenge on the father of her child. He said to Hester, “His fame, his position, his life, will be in my hands. Beware (IV: 65)!” Chillingworth vowed to discover the identity of Hester’s lover, Dimmesdale, and promised to torture him and ruin his life. Chillingworth is letting the desired punishment he has for Dimmesdale control they way he lives his life.
As Hester, accompanied along by Pearl, waits for Dimmesdale in the forest, she watches as the minister walks through the woods. It is described that “There was a listlessness in his gait, as if he saw no reason for taking one step further, nor felt any desire to do so, but would have been glad, could be so glad of anything, to fling himself down at the root of the nearest tree, and lie there passive, forevermore” (Hawthorne 184-185). This quote perfectly describes that suffering that Dimmesdale is facing due to Roger Chillingworth’s torment along with his own
In addition to Arthur Dimmesdale, another character of the story is Roger Chillingworth. He confronts downfall by setting his goal to seek revenge on Dimmesdale, which turns him into evil. Chillingworth responds to Hester's betrayal by sacrificing everything he has. First, he gives up his independence. Chillingworth soon becomes obsessed with his new mission in life that once he targeted Arthur Dimmesdale as a possible partner, he dedicates all of his time becoming his confidant in order to destroy Dimmesdale's sanity. The obsession turns him from a peaceful scholar into a fiend. He gives up his true identity as Roger Prynne to truly corrupt Dimmesdale and to be by his side everyday. Second he pays enormous price for his vengeance, his own life. After spending so much time dwelling on his revenge, he forgets that he still has a chance to lead his life of his own. So accordingly, after Dimmesdale's death, he dies less than a
Prompt: Trace the development of Roger Chillingworth in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthrone AND explain how he is perceived by other characters in the story. Have you ever wondered why people judge and think about other people? The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is about a woman who committed adultery and how people think about and judge her. The book is considered to be a parable because it tells a moral and spiritual lesson to the readers by Hester committing a great sin. There are many different characters present in the story.
Roger Chillingworth is presented here by the auhor as Hester's significant other, but since the story started in medias res (beginning amidst the activity), we didn't see whatever early friendship there might have been amongst Hester and Roger. Presently, the creator does not give us a chance to appear to locate the smallest piece of feeling interfacing them. For sure, when Chillingworth shows up while Hester is on the framework, she appears to be incapacitated by apprehension at first. What's more, when Chillingworth requests out loud, " we all of a sudden see exactly how removed a couple now are.
Suffer: to endure death, pain, or distress; to sustain loss or damage. Every person in history has suffered; every person today suffers; every person will at one time or another, suffer. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter, focuses on four main characters and their lives of suffering. But who is the one who suffers the most? Roger Chillingworth. Roger Chillingworth’s suffering began long before he arrived in Boston. While in England, Roger marries a younger woman named Hester, and he declares this as his first mistake. It is the first step he takes to try to rid his loneliness, but it ultimately leads to an even worse fate. Even though he is not the most lovable character, Chillingworth is the one who has to endure the worst life.