In many books, the antagonistic character is described as pure evil. They are a malevolent force interested in cold, cruel vengeance, or dastardly ambitions. However, there are some antagonists who break this traditional role of a completely evil force. Roger Chillingworth, from
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, is a complex character who cannot be seen in a purely black and white view.
One detail that many seem to forget, while getting caught up in the relationship between
Hester and Dimmesdale, is that Chillingworth is Hester’s original husband. Before Hester ever met Dimmesdale, she has been married to Chillingworth for some time already. Hester describes him as an inattentive husband, secluded in his studies and knowledge, but Chillingworth …show more content…
Merritt 3
Hester seems to have a strange relationship with her child, not quite love and not quite hate, as shown in chapter 6: “to snatch her to her bosom, with a close pressure and earnest kisses,- not so much from overflowing love, as to assure herself that Pearl was flesh and blood,” (Hawthorne,
85). Some even say that, looking at the total of Hester’s actions and behavior around and to
Pearl, indicate that Hester almost hates her child, while also loving her, as both her child and the symbol of Hester’s sin, her permanent Scarlet Letter (Lawrence, 104). Somehow, the devilish and evil Chillingworth, torturer of souls, lover of none, cares enough about this child to leave almost all his earthly possessions to her, making her practically the richest girl in town. This can be taken to mean that while Chillingworth may hate Hester, for scorning his love and betraying his trust, and Dimmesdale, for cheating with his wife and getting away with it, Chillingworth
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, is a complex character who cannot be seen in a purely black and white view.
One detail that many seem to forget, while getting caught up in the relationship between
Hester and Dimmesdale, is that Chillingworth is Hester’s original husband. Before Hester ever met Dimmesdale, she has been married to Chillingworth for some time already. Hester describes him as an inattentive husband, secluded in his studies and knowledge, but Chillingworth …show more content…
Merritt 3
Hester seems to have a strange relationship with her child, not quite love and not quite hate, as shown in chapter 6: “to snatch her to her bosom, with a close pressure and earnest kisses,- not so much from overflowing love, as to assure herself that Pearl was flesh and blood,” (Hawthorne,
85). Some even say that, looking at the total of Hester’s actions and behavior around and to
Pearl, indicate that Hester almost hates her child, while also loving her, as both her child and the symbol of Hester’s sin, her permanent Scarlet Letter (Lawrence, 104). Somehow, the devilish and evil Chillingworth, torturer of souls, lover of none, cares enough about this child to leave almost all his earthly possessions to her, making her practically the richest girl in town. This can be taken to mean that while Chillingworth may hate Hester, for scorning his love and betraying his trust, and Dimmesdale, for cheating with his wife and getting away with it, Chillingworth