Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter portrays the ramifications of a forbidden romance: a romance built around the complications of marriage, sin, and societal positions. As remarked on by Hawthorne, these ramifications solidify each character in the novel as victims to their own frailties, resulting in immeasurable sorrow for everyone. As a result of Hester Prynne's actions and his own, Roger Chillingworth succumbs to a state of desolation where he experiences emasculation and a loss of identity. Chillingworth, the scorned husband of Hester, begins a quest consumed by discernment and malice that further acts as a catalyst for the dire repercussions played out in the novel. Chillingworth's plan of "intimate revenge" against Hester's illicit
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Chillingworth's identity is removed by his desire for revenge; he chooses a new name in an attempt to secretly conduct villainous contrivances. As a lauded and well-educated scholar, Chillingworth's identity was essential. Losing his name, which was symbolically given to Hester during marriage, is indicative of more imminent loss. Chillingworth's loss of manhood and the inevitable destruction of the main characters by his revenge is represented by this nominal transition. The changes Chillingworth undergoes exemplifies Hawthorne's theme of pervasive frailties that result in profound sorrow. As Chillingworth remarks, "There is no path to guide us out of this dismal maze" (148). Without feeling emasculated, Chillingworth could have acted in an exemplary manner and not caused all the connected characters to suffer. Instead, Chillingworth destined them all to a maze of sorrow. Chillingworth also intentionally becomes known as a doctor to order to mask his shame and involvement in Hester's marital sin. Possessing acumen similar to a judge and the righteousness of a divine being, Chillingworth attempts to regain a place of authority via his "scheme of disguise" (143). Chillingworth, despite reverence as a doctor, cannot compete with Dimmesdale's Puritanical ascendancy, and so he exerts power and shows his manhood by his mechanism of revenge. Hawthorne writes that Chillingworth "stooped for" his revenge, and maintains a "clutch on [Dimmesdale's] life" (146). The actions of Chillingworth inflict a daily death onto Dimmesdale, and they also result in anguish for Hester and Pearl. Chillingworth's actions of striving for superiority shape the outcome of the novel, emphasizing the resounding
Chillingworth's identity is removed by his desire for revenge; he chooses a new name in an attempt to secretly conduct villainous contrivances. As a lauded and well-educated scholar, Chillingworth's identity was essential. Losing his name, which was symbolically given to Hester during marriage, is indicative of more imminent loss. Chillingworth's loss of manhood and the inevitable destruction of the main characters by his revenge is represented by this nominal transition. The changes Chillingworth undergoes exemplifies Hawthorne's theme of pervasive frailties that result in profound sorrow. As Chillingworth remarks, "There is no path to guide us out of this dismal maze" (148). Without feeling emasculated, Chillingworth could have acted in an exemplary manner and not caused all the connected characters to suffer. Instead, Chillingworth destined them all to a maze of sorrow. Chillingworth also intentionally becomes known as a doctor to order to mask his shame and involvement in Hester's marital sin. Possessing acumen similar to a judge and the righteousness of a divine being, Chillingworth attempts to regain a place of authority via his "scheme of disguise" (143). Chillingworth, despite reverence as a doctor, cannot compete with Dimmesdale's Puritanical ascendancy, and so he exerts power and shows his manhood by his mechanism of revenge. Hawthorne writes that Chillingworth "stooped for" his revenge, and maintains a "clutch on [Dimmesdale's] life" (146). The actions of Chillingworth inflict a daily death onto Dimmesdale, and they also result in anguish for Hester and Pearl. Chillingworth's actions of striving for superiority shape the outcome of the novel, emphasizing the resounding