Comparing Chillingworth And Dimmesdale In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter
Carrie Shen
Mr. Goniea
English 11
18 May 2014
Contrast of Chillingworth and Dimmesdale As we read the Scarlet Letter, we know Chillingworth and Dimmesdale all having relationship with Hester. However, they had different attitude toward Pearl and they treated Hester differently even though they both had relationship with her. Firstly, Roger Chillingworth, unlike Hester and Dimmesdale, is a flat character. While he develops from a kind scholar into an obsessed fiend, he is less of a character and more of a symbol doing the devil 's bidding. Once he comes to Boston, we see him only in situations that involve his obsession with vengeance, where we learn a great deal about him. (CliffsNotes) For Dimmesdale, because of he is an eloquent and emotionally powerful speaker and a compassionate leader, and his congregation is able to receive …show more content…
People like him. (Lara) According to them, I think Dimmesdale and Pearl had emotional attraction with each other; and for Chillingworth, always had negative assumption and opinion toward Pearl.
Lastly, Dimmesdale is more compassionate towards Hester, more caring and forgiving. For example, when he hesitates quite a bit at the scaffold, where he is to ironically address Hester and persuade her into confessing the name of her fellow sinner. (Chacha) Chillingworth tells her that he forgives her, and he accepts the blame for having married her. She says, “thou knowest that I was frank with thee. I felt no love, nor feigned any.” He asks Hester who the father of Pearl is, but she refuses to tell him. Chillingworth then laughs and says, "He bears no letter of infamy wrought into his garment, as thou dost; but I shall read it on his heart." (Aslan) In Chapter 4 of The Scarlet Letter, when Chillingworth first encounters Hester after his sojourn in the forest, his attitude toward Hester is one of a dual regret mixed with an ironic sarcasm stirred by an
Mr. Goniea
English 11
18 May 2014
Contrast of Chillingworth and Dimmesdale As we read the Scarlet Letter, we know Chillingworth and Dimmesdale all having relationship with Hester. However, they had different attitude toward Pearl and they treated Hester differently even though they both had relationship with her. Firstly, Roger Chillingworth, unlike Hester and Dimmesdale, is a flat character. While he develops from a kind scholar into an obsessed fiend, he is less of a character and more of a symbol doing the devil 's bidding. Once he comes to Boston, we see him only in situations that involve his obsession with vengeance, where we learn a great deal about him. (CliffsNotes) For Dimmesdale, because of he is an eloquent and emotionally powerful speaker and a compassionate leader, and his congregation is able to receive …show more content…
People like him. (Lara) According to them, I think Dimmesdale and Pearl had emotional attraction with each other; and for Chillingworth, always had negative assumption and opinion toward Pearl.
Lastly, Dimmesdale is more compassionate towards Hester, more caring and forgiving. For example, when he hesitates quite a bit at the scaffold, where he is to ironically address Hester and persuade her into confessing the name of her fellow sinner. (Chacha) Chillingworth tells her that he forgives her, and he accepts the blame for having married her. She says, “thou knowest that I was frank with thee. I felt no love, nor feigned any.” He asks Hester who the father of Pearl is, but she refuses to tell him. Chillingworth then laughs and says, "He bears no letter of infamy wrought into his garment, as thou dost; but I shall read it on his heart." (Aslan) In Chapter 4 of The Scarlet Letter, when Chillingworth first encounters Hester after his sojourn in the forest, his attitude toward Hester is one of a dual regret mixed with an ironic sarcasm stirred by an