Chapter 9: The Leech We are reminded that Roger Chillingworth is going by a false name. He is a “brilliant acquisition” (p233), combining his knowledge of what he learn in his Indian captivity and British medicine. He choose Reverend Dimmesdale to be his spiritual mentor. Dimmesdale isn’t looking so well, “…the health of Mr. Dimmesdale had evidently begun to fail. By those best acquainted with his habits, the paleness of the young minister's cheek was accounted for by his too earnest devotion to study, his scrupulous fulfilment of parochial duty, and more than all, to the fasts and vigils of which he made a frequent practice, in order to keep the grossness of this earthly state from clogging and obscuring his spiritual lamp.” (p235), they
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Chillingworth decides he needs to find out why Dimmesdale is sick, before he can help him. Chillingworth analyzes him, Dimmesdale never reveals his secret. Later on, Chillingworth hints to a friend of Dimmesdale’s that they should move in together so that he can better assist the health of Dimmesdale. Which seemed perfect because Dimmesdale wasn’t married. Most of the townspeople think it’s a great idea in the hands of God, others thinks that it’s not because Chillingworth has changed since he first showed up in town, “…affirmed that Roger Chillingworth's aspect had undergone a remarkable change while he had dwelt in town, and especially since his abode with Mr. Dimmesdale. At first, his expression had been calm, meditative, scholar-like. Now there was something ugly and evil in his face, which they had not previously noticed, and which grew still the more obvious to sight the oftener they looked upon him.” (p251). Some even think Dimmesdale is being haunted by Satan himself, “Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale, like many other personages of special sanctity, in all ages of the Christian world, was haunted either by Satan himself or Satan's emissary, in the guise of old Roger …show more content…
One day, Dimmesdale asks Chillingworth were he got a curtain herb from Chillingworth replies saying, “They grew out of his heart, and typify, it may be, some hideous secret that was buried with him, and which he had done better to confess during his lifetime.” (p257). Chillingworth go back and forth about confessing sins, Dimmesdale grabs his chest as if he had a sudden pain, then he says “guilty as they may be, retaining, nevertheless, a zeal for God's glory and man's welfare, they shrink from displaying themselves black and filthy in the view of men; because, thenceforward, no good can be achieved by them; no evil of the past be redeemed by better service.” (p259). He’s saying that if you confess you will no longer be good in the eyes of God. Chillingworth then says that those men are fools, they hear Pearl laugh and then se Hester and Pearl walking by. Pearl throws a burr at Dimmesdale, they all look at each other and then Pearl “…shouted--Come away, mother! Come away, or yonder old black man will catch you! He hath got hold of the minister already. Come away, mother or he will catch you! But he cannot catch little Pearl!"” (p263-265). After all of that the men keep talking. Both men fall asleep then wake up, Dimmesdale falls asleep again while reading a book. Chillingworth came in a opened Dimmesdale’s shirt and saw everything he needed to see, “he threw
Chillingworth decides he needs to find out why Dimmesdale is sick, before he can help him. Chillingworth analyzes him, Dimmesdale never reveals his secret. Later on, Chillingworth hints to a friend of Dimmesdale’s that they should move in together so that he can better assist the health of Dimmesdale. Which seemed perfect because Dimmesdale wasn’t married. Most of the townspeople think it’s a great idea in the hands of God, others thinks that it’s not because Chillingworth has changed since he first showed up in town, “…affirmed that Roger Chillingworth's aspect had undergone a remarkable change while he had dwelt in town, and especially since his abode with Mr. Dimmesdale. At first, his expression had been calm, meditative, scholar-like. Now there was something ugly and evil in his face, which they had not previously noticed, and which grew still the more obvious to sight the oftener they looked upon him.” (p251). Some even think Dimmesdale is being haunted by Satan himself, “Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale, like many other personages of special sanctity, in all ages of the Christian world, was haunted either by Satan himself or Satan's emissary, in the guise of old Roger …show more content…
One day, Dimmesdale asks Chillingworth were he got a curtain herb from Chillingworth replies saying, “They grew out of his heart, and typify, it may be, some hideous secret that was buried with him, and which he had done better to confess during his lifetime.” (p257). Chillingworth go back and forth about confessing sins, Dimmesdale grabs his chest as if he had a sudden pain, then he says “guilty as they may be, retaining, nevertheless, a zeal for God's glory and man's welfare, they shrink from displaying themselves black and filthy in the view of men; because, thenceforward, no good can be achieved by them; no evil of the past be redeemed by better service.” (p259). He’s saying that if you confess you will no longer be good in the eyes of God. Chillingworth then says that those men are fools, they hear Pearl laugh and then se Hester and Pearl walking by. Pearl throws a burr at Dimmesdale, they all look at each other and then Pearl “…shouted--Come away, mother! Come away, or yonder old black man will catch you! He hath got hold of the minister already. Come away, mother or he will catch you! But he cannot catch little Pearl!"” (p263-265). After all of that the men keep talking. Both men fall asleep then wake up, Dimmesdale falls asleep again while reading a book. Chillingworth came in a opened Dimmesdale’s shirt and saw everything he needed to see, “he threw