The Scarlet Letter: Chillingworth and Dimmesdale’s Interpretations of Sin
In the Scarlet Letter, both men in Hester’s life, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale and Roger Chillingworth, have complex motivations for the actions they take throughout the novel. These motivations are mostly driven by sin; an archaic and taboo subject, especially in Puritanical New England. Both Chillingworth and Dimmesdale have a tumultuous relationship with sin and have varying ideals of what sin itself is, how one should repent for enacting sin, and also have very different motivations derived from sin.
Dimmesdale and Chillingworth have rather polarizing opinions on sin. Dimmesdale, as a Reverend, has a much more traditional view on sin whereas Chillingworth seems …show more content…
His vengeance is the key factor in all of his actions and decisions and it is a trait of his which seems entirely unwaverable. His determination is so severe that there is “no one place so secret,—no high place nor lowly place, where [Dimmesdale] couldst have escaped.” () His singular focus is to punish Dimmesdale, and in a cruel twist of irony uses his medicine to keep the ailing Reverend alive long enough to exact his revenge. At the beginning of The Scarlet Letter the reader can be helped for feeling sorry for Chillingworth, but later it is clear that he is not one to be pitied. His gnarled appearance matches perfectly with the evil intentions he has throughout the novel, toying with Dimmesdale and attempting to strip away any of the humanity he might have remaining. His motivations aren’t driven by sin itself, but by the fact that Dimmesdale wronged him. Chillingworth has been a scholarly introvert for his entire life, and after this last straw he isn’t content to be walked over again like he was previously. He is given life by his quest for revenge and, though he is very old, seems to not age as the years go by while he plots. When Dimmesdale finally confesses his sins to the public on the scaffold, Chillingworth loses his purpose. He repeats “Thou hast escaped me!” () in utter disbelief that his plot could have been hampered. After this, he is left with nothing. He is dead to Hester and Pearl and the only motivating factor in his life has just redeemed himself publicly then died a martyr. He expires soon after the end of the story to no great surprise, showing once again how singularly focused his motivation for vengeance
In the Scarlet Letter, both men in Hester’s life, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale and Roger Chillingworth, have complex motivations for the actions they take throughout the novel. These motivations are mostly driven by sin; an archaic and taboo subject, especially in Puritanical New England. Both Chillingworth and Dimmesdale have a tumultuous relationship with sin and have varying ideals of what sin itself is, how one should repent for enacting sin, and also have very different motivations derived from sin.
Dimmesdale and Chillingworth have rather polarizing opinions on sin. Dimmesdale, as a Reverend, has a much more traditional view on sin whereas Chillingworth seems …show more content…
His vengeance is the key factor in all of his actions and decisions and it is a trait of his which seems entirely unwaverable. His determination is so severe that there is “no one place so secret,—no high place nor lowly place, where [Dimmesdale] couldst have escaped.” () His singular focus is to punish Dimmesdale, and in a cruel twist of irony uses his medicine to keep the ailing Reverend alive long enough to exact his revenge. At the beginning of The Scarlet Letter the reader can be helped for feeling sorry for Chillingworth, but later it is clear that he is not one to be pitied. His gnarled appearance matches perfectly with the evil intentions he has throughout the novel, toying with Dimmesdale and attempting to strip away any of the humanity he might have remaining. His motivations aren’t driven by sin itself, but by the fact that Dimmesdale wronged him. Chillingworth has been a scholarly introvert for his entire life, and after this last straw he isn’t content to be walked over again like he was previously. He is given life by his quest for revenge and, though he is very old, seems to not age as the years go by while he plots. When Dimmesdale finally confesses his sins to the public on the scaffold, Chillingworth loses his purpose. He repeats “Thou hast escaped me!” () in utter disbelief that his plot could have been hampered. After this, he is left with nothing. He is dead to Hester and Pearl and the only motivating factor in his life has just redeemed himself publicly then died a martyr. He expires soon after the end of the story to no great surprise, showing once again how singularly focused his motivation for vengeance