How does the character of Chillingworth change throughout
"The Scarlet Letter"?
In Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter," Roger Chillingworth is initially
depicted as a well-educated and talented physician. However, as the story
progresses, Chillingworth's character undergoes a transformation. Initially,
Chillingworth is determined to find out who has committed adultery with Hester
and seeks for revenge. As he seeks revenge, he becomes increasingly cruel,
and his obsession with catching the one wh0 committed adultery with Hester
consumes him. His descent into evil can be seen when he is described as
having "a fiendish look" and "a dark token of departed souls."
Chillingworth's transformation is caused by his intense desire for revenge. He
becomes increasingly consumed by his desire for vengeance, and as a result,
his character is distorted. Furthermore, as he indulges in his obsession and
revenge, he becomes more attuned to his own darkness, causing him to
become even more desperate.
Overall, Chillingworth's character is characterized as a study of how a
person’s moral core can be corrupted by an unrelenting pursuit of revenge.
References:
- Hawthorne, N. (1850). The Scarlet Letter. Ticknor, Reed, and Fields.
- Kesterson, D. (1979). The Scarlet Letter: Hawthorne's Theory of Punishment. Studies in
the Novel, 11(2), 162-179.