Character Analysis Of Hester And Chillingworth In 'The Scarlet Letter'

Hawthorne uses various details to depict Roger Chillingworth’s character; when he asks Hester who the father of Pearl is and she says that she will never name him, he replies with a “dark and self relying intelligence,” which portrays that Chillingworth is confident in himself and always gets what he wants, whether he has to work for it or not (64). Also, Hawthorne utilizes the word “dark” in this phrase to convey how, even though Chillingworth is an intelligent man, he has a wicked side and will use that intelligence for good or evil (64). Furthermore, when Hester and Chillingworth are speaking to each other, Hester uses the simile “like the Black Man” to depict how Chillingworth is devilish and will haunt people until he gets what he wants,