Analysis of Roger Chillingworth In the novel The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne used a very large amount of symbolism; different characters representing different things, mostly emotions. These symbols ranged from love and hope, all the way to hate. Roger Chillingworth most definitely represented hate. Roger Chillingworth was the most impactful character in the novel. Chillingworth changed the whole dynamic of the story upon his arrival. His deceitful nature brought constant tension. Although the reader knows his motives essentially from the beginning of the novel, other characters outside of Hester do not. This complicated the already difficult situation. Chillingworth said in the beginning of the novel, “I shall seek this man… as I have sought
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Luck was definitely on his side. Almost immediately, Chillingworth was accepted by the town and it’s people as a talented physician. This brought Pearl’s father right into the palm of Chillingworth’s hand, Arthur Dimmesdale. This is where the cold hearted nature of Chillingworth was really revealed. From this point on he would pry at Dimmesdale’s emotions in an effort to make him crack. The fact that Chillingworth did not overlook anyone in the hunt for the father showcased his hate fueled obsession with finding the father. This ultimately played to his advantage, the average person would not think that the town’s most beloved reverend would commit adultery, but he did. At this point, Chillingworth was in complete control of Dimmesdale, he would essentially control Dimmesdale’s health and mental state without anyone knowing. Increasingly, Dimmesdale’s guilt was surfacing. At this point it was clear that it was not his health that was the main problem, it was his mental state. Chillingworth was now, at this point, destroying …show more content…
Dimmesdale says, “May God forgive thee!” (Hawthorne 281). Dimmesdale forgives Chillingworth at this moment. The simple action of forgiveness had eluded Chillingworth the entire novel. That same action could have saved him, it could have saved him from all of the hatred and cynical acts. Dimmesdale admits his sin, accepting it by revealing it to not only God, but the people of the town. In one last ditch effort, Chillingworth attempts to get him to stop, but it is too late. The damage has been done, and there is no longer a chance for him to escape
Luck was definitely on his side. Almost immediately, Chillingworth was accepted by the town and it’s people as a talented physician. This brought Pearl’s father right into the palm of Chillingworth’s hand, Arthur Dimmesdale. This is where the cold hearted nature of Chillingworth was really revealed. From this point on he would pry at Dimmesdale’s emotions in an effort to make him crack. The fact that Chillingworth did not overlook anyone in the hunt for the father showcased his hate fueled obsession with finding the father. This ultimately played to his advantage, the average person would not think that the town’s most beloved reverend would commit adultery, but he did. At this point, Chillingworth was in complete control of Dimmesdale, he would essentially control Dimmesdale’s health and mental state without anyone knowing. Increasingly, Dimmesdale’s guilt was surfacing. At this point it was clear that it was not his health that was the main problem, it was his mental state. Chillingworth was now, at this point, destroying …show more content…
Dimmesdale says, “May God forgive thee!” (Hawthorne 281). Dimmesdale forgives Chillingworth at this moment. The simple action of forgiveness had eluded Chillingworth the entire novel. That same action could have saved him, it could have saved him from all of the hatred and cynical acts. Dimmesdale admits his sin, accepting it by revealing it to not only God, but the people of the town. In one last ditch effort, Chillingworth attempts to get him to stop, but it is too late. The damage has been done, and there is no longer a chance for him to escape