Nathaniel Hawthorne’s use of language throughout the Scarlet Letter is very telling concerning his attitude towards the characters in the novel. Hawthorne’s words persuade the reader to sympathize for Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale for they are described in a more positive light. On the contrary, Hawthorne’s description of Roger Chillingworth includes rather harsh words that depict Chillingworth as the antagonist. Through his words, it is clear that Hawthorne views Hester Prynne as a passionate and brave woman that endured many years of shame and judgement. Towards the beginning of the novel, Hawthorne describes how Hester attempted to hide the scarlet letter embroidered on her chest, but “wisely judging that one token of her shame would
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This diabolical agent had the Divine permission, for a reason, to burrow into the clergyman’s intimacy, and plot against his soul” (Hawthorne 72). It is apparent that Hawthorne does not feel any sympathy for Roger Chillingworth as he describes the old man as a “diabolical agent” and “Satan himself”, which gives him a dark persona. The negative connotation that comes with Roger Chillingworth is obvious when the author describes the “quiet depth of malice, hitherto latent, but active now, in this unfortunate old man, which led him to imagine a more intimate revenge than any mortal had ever wreaked upon an enemy” (Hawthorne 78). The darkness and evil in his heart is so great that Hawthorne feels the need to state that the vengeance Chillingworth cursed upon Dimmesdale is caused by a human, not an immortal being. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s language used for Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth come together to make his views of each character apparent. Through his words, the reader is able to see that Hester and
This diabolical agent had the Divine permission, for a reason, to burrow into the clergyman’s intimacy, and plot against his soul” (Hawthorne 72). It is apparent that Hawthorne does not feel any sympathy for Roger Chillingworth as he describes the old man as a “diabolical agent” and “Satan himself”, which gives him a dark persona. The negative connotation that comes with Roger Chillingworth is obvious when the author describes the “quiet depth of malice, hitherto latent, but active now, in this unfortunate old man, which led him to imagine a more intimate revenge than any mortal had ever wreaked upon an enemy” (Hawthorne 78). The darkness and evil in his heart is so great that Hawthorne feels the need to state that the vengeance Chillingworth cursed upon Dimmesdale is caused by a human, not an immortal being. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s language used for Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth come together to make his views of each character apparent. Through his words, the reader is able to see that Hester and