Roger Chillingworth: A Man Who Lusts for Revenge
Readers often skim past the intricacies of the characters in a novel in order to get to the main part of the novel; however, the reader must obtain a close relationship with the characters throughout the novel to observe the fluctuation in the character’s characteristics and motivations. When the reader can get a better understanding of a character's individual change, the reader's becomes familiar with the author’s intentions and their structuring of the novel and characters. In The Scarlet letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne,establishes three characters who all intertwine in ways that they ultimately lead to each other’s despair and by analyzing each character such as Roger Chillingworth, the antagonist, …show more content…
This can be proven when Arthur Dimmesdale states “By giving me this burning torture to bear upon my breast! By sending yonder dark and terrible old man, to keep the torture always at red-heat!” (Chapter 23). This statement provides us with proof of how much Chillingworth's torment and the guilt ultimately affected Dimmesdale and leads to his death. The effect of Dimmesdale’s passing leaves Chillingworth with essentially nothing to live for because his motivation was to acquire revenge against Dimmesdale, but Chillingworth does not acquire the full gratitude because Dimmesdale admitted to his wrong doings. This can be determined when the narrator states,“All his strength and energy-- all his vital intellectual force--seemed at once to desert him,” (Chapter 24) and “There was no more devil's work on earth for him to do.” (Chapter 24) These statements show that Chillingworth differs from his previous self, fueled by his desire for revenge, leaving only a hollow shell left with nothing left to live for. Chillingworth passes away a year after Dimmesdale’s …show more content…
Chillingworth attacks his culture because the Puritans are highly devoted to their religion and aim to live a life without sin, which Chillingworth does not accomplish according to Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale states, “the old man’s revenge has been blacker than my sin.” (Chapter 17). This statement further proves that Chillingworth opposes his culture due to his sinful thirst for revenge. The author conveys his theme very effectively especially in Chillingworth’s case, who devotes his entirety to enacting his revenge on Dimmesdale, who dies due to the guilt and Chillingworth’s hauntings, a man left with no motivation and ceases to live. Along with the other characters, the author brings forth the theme that a person’s own sin can and will lead to their own
Readers often skim past the intricacies of the characters in a novel in order to get to the main part of the novel; however, the reader must obtain a close relationship with the characters throughout the novel to observe the fluctuation in the character’s characteristics and motivations. When the reader can get a better understanding of a character's individual change, the reader's becomes familiar with the author’s intentions and their structuring of the novel and characters. In The Scarlet letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne,establishes three characters who all intertwine in ways that they ultimately lead to each other’s despair and by analyzing each character such as Roger Chillingworth, the antagonist, …show more content…
This can be proven when Arthur Dimmesdale states “By giving me this burning torture to bear upon my breast! By sending yonder dark and terrible old man, to keep the torture always at red-heat!” (Chapter 23). This statement provides us with proof of how much Chillingworth's torment and the guilt ultimately affected Dimmesdale and leads to his death. The effect of Dimmesdale’s passing leaves Chillingworth with essentially nothing to live for because his motivation was to acquire revenge against Dimmesdale, but Chillingworth does not acquire the full gratitude because Dimmesdale admitted to his wrong doings. This can be determined when the narrator states,“All his strength and energy-- all his vital intellectual force--seemed at once to desert him,” (Chapter 24) and “There was no more devil's work on earth for him to do.” (Chapter 24) These statements show that Chillingworth differs from his previous self, fueled by his desire for revenge, leaving only a hollow shell left with nothing left to live for. Chillingworth passes away a year after Dimmesdale’s …show more content…
Chillingworth attacks his culture because the Puritans are highly devoted to their religion and aim to live a life without sin, which Chillingworth does not accomplish according to Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale states, “the old man’s revenge has been blacker than my sin.” (Chapter 17). This statement further proves that Chillingworth opposes his culture due to his sinful thirst for revenge. The author conveys his theme very effectively especially in Chillingworth’s case, who devotes his entirety to enacting his revenge on Dimmesdale, who dies due to the guilt and Chillingworth’s hauntings, a man left with no motivation and ceases to live. Along with the other characters, the author brings forth the theme that a person’s own sin can and will lead to their own