Chillingworth's Criminal Scene Analysis

The Leech and his Patient scene unravels Chillingworth's evil determination to revenge on Arthur Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale is already torturing himself, because the guilt of his role in adultery with Hester Prynne is eating him away. Even though Dimmesdale is ashamed of his sin, he is still unable to confess. Chillingworth is so focused on accomplishing revenge that it could be seen as a “terrible fascination”(103) Hawthorne mentions how Chillingworth “dug into the poor clergyman's heart, like a miner searching for gold”(103) which shows how obsessed and focused chillingworth is on revenge on Arthur Dimmesdale rather than Hester Prynne. Hawthorne refers to Chillingworth's reputation as once a "pure and upright man."(103) however, this actually