In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne and Roger Chillingworth are tied in complex ways. Married openly and then in secret, both have betrayed and harmed one another. Both have sinned, and both have let their hopes and passions blind them and carry them astray. While Hester and Chillingworth have seemingly opposite motives, drives, and desires, their fates are bound together. Chillingworth’s comparisons of Hester and himself communicate his views on their past and future while acknowledging the connections between them. Roger Chillingworth contrasts Hester and himself by comparing their passions, desires, and physical traits. He juxtaposes his own, misshapen form with her lovely one: “[A] man already in decay, having given
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He reflects on how their individual reasonings have shaped both of their paths: “[H]ow could I delude myself with the idea that intellectual gifts might veil physical deformity in a young girl’s fantasy!” (1). Chillingworth establishes himself as the reasonable and logical one of the pair. He valued his intellect enough to believe it could compensate for his physical appearance, but failed to account for Hester not being led by that same logic. Through his reflection of their past, Chillingworth recognizes that his intellect will never be enough for Hester and that her free-spirit will never be able to be what he desires. His contrast between his intelligence and her emotions displays Chillingworth’s understanding of his mistake in not factoring for emotions, as he so rarely allows emotions to drive his actions. He recognizes his own fault in their situation: “Men call me wise. If sages were ever wise in their own behoof, I might have foreseen all this” (1). He had not fully comprehended the effect of their unfilled desires until it had led Hester to commit her sin. Chillingworth accepts that despite his knowledge and self-proclaimed intelligence, his own ignorance caused all of his and Hester’s issues. He failed to recognize the differences between Hester and himself. By seeing the world from only his point of view and failing be aware of other perspectives, Chillingworth prompted pain and sadness on both his and Hester’s ends. Hester’s sin caused Chillingworth to understand that their futures will continue to be ruled by their opposite dispositions: hers emotion-led and his
He reflects on how their individual reasonings have shaped both of their paths: “[H]ow could I delude myself with the idea that intellectual gifts might veil physical deformity in a young girl’s fantasy!” (1). Chillingworth establishes himself as the reasonable and logical one of the pair. He valued his intellect enough to believe it could compensate for his physical appearance, but failed to account for Hester not being led by that same logic. Through his reflection of their past, Chillingworth recognizes that his intellect will never be enough for Hester and that her free-spirit will never be able to be what he desires. His contrast between his intelligence and her emotions displays Chillingworth’s understanding of his mistake in not factoring for emotions, as he so rarely allows emotions to drive his actions. He recognizes his own fault in their situation: “Men call me wise. If sages were ever wise in their own behoof, I might have foreseen all this” (1). He had not fully comprehended the effect of their unfilled desires until it had led Hester to commit her sin. Chillingworth accepts that despite his knowledge and self-proclaimed intelligence, his own ignorance caused all of his and Hester’s issues. He failed to recognize the differences between Hester and himself. By seeing the world from only his point of view and failing be aware of other perspectives, Chillingworth prompted pain and sadness on both his and Hester’s ends. Hester’s sin caused Chillingworth to understand that their futures will continue to be ruled by their opposite dispositions: hers emotion-led and his