The human need for emotional reconciliation can dramatically impact one's life and constantly interfere with intellectual decisions. Pain influences decisions stronger than any other emotion. It leaves a person feeling empty, having the constant urge to fill the void. This empty space can be filled with relief, happiness and joy that will come with forgiveness. Other times, there is a strong need for revenge and retaliation. These constant urges of strong emotional change can eat away at a person and influence their entire self. When writing The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne explores this idea of personal change, caused by the intense pain of sins. The passionate sin between Hester and Dimmesdale causes many repercussions throughout the novel.
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Chillingworth feels the need to take revenge upon Dimmesdale for his and Hester’s sins. He goes so far as to live with the man just to be able to get inside his head. Chillingworth is seen as evil and manipulative from the minute we are introduced to him. When Hester first recognizes him in the crowd, she can feel his stare peering into her from across the crowd. “Very soon, however, his look became keen and penetrative. A writhing horror twisted itself across his features, like a snake gliding swiftly over them...” (Hawthorne 56) Chillingworth’s evil presence is obvious from these very first sentences of his existence. He is dark and manipulative, already overcome with the urge of revenge. Even Chillingworth himself knows that this powerful emotion changes him, and not for the better. When talking to Hester after moving in with Dimmesdale, Chillingworth says, “Dost thou remember me? Was I not, though you might deem me cold, nevertheless a man thoughtful for others, craving little for himself, -kind, true, just, and of constant, if not warm affections?” (Hawthorne 156) Chillingworth’s thirst for retaliation made him a selfish man. He blames Hester for his madness, instead of taking responsibility for his actions. This differs him from Dimmesdale who is weighed down by pain because he wishes to take responsibility for his actions but feels he
Chillingworth feels the need to take revenge upon Dimmesdale for his and Hester’s sins. He goes so far as to live with the man just to be able to get inside his head. Chillingworth is seen as evil and manipulative from the minute we are introduced to him. When Hester first recognizes him in the crowd, she can feel his stare peering into her from across the crowd. “Very soon, however, his look became keen and penetrative. A writhing horror twisted itself across his features, like a snake gliding swiftly over them...” (Hawthorne 56) Chillingworth’s evil presence is obvious from these very first sentences of his existence. He is dark and manipulative, already overcome with the urge of revenge. Even Chillingworth himself knows that this powerful emotion changes him, and not for the better. When talking to Hester after moving in with Dimmesdale, Chillingworth says, “Dost thou remember me? Was I not, though you might deem me cold, nevertheless a man thoughtful for others, craving little for himself, -kind, true, just, and of constant, if not warm affections?” (Hawthorne 156) Chillingworth’s thirst for retaliation made him a selfish man. He blames Hester for his madness, instead of taking responsibility for his actions. This differs him from Dimmesdale who is weighed down by pain because he wishes to take responsibility for his actions but feels he