Roger Chillingworth was an intense and deep character who underwent a major transformation. Chillingworth was the worst sinner in the book, and eventually that sin consumed him and all that was left was his need for revenge. It was thought that he had "made it his principle to consist in the pursuit of revenge"(175) In the beginning of the book, when Hester and baby Pearl were in jail, Chillingworth produced a very natural medicine to cure them. Chillingworth seemed the all-around-good-guy that everybody wants to befriend. The minister, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth became friends. However, when news of his true identity and the ministers real self got around to the other, Chillingworth thought "He was his bitterest enemy"(151). After the long years searching for Hester's secret lover, Chillingworth's real side began to show.
Back in England Chillingworth had "needed to bask himself in that [Hester's] smile" (120). Although Hester was never in love with Chillingworth, this shows that at one time she must've gotten along with him decently. Because he kept up his disguise with the townspeople throughout the story they thought he was "so reputable a citizen" (158). During most of the book, Chillingworth was in a position where he could easily poison Dimmesdale. However, he never did because neither he nor Dimmesdale knew the other's secret. They were good friends because after they died it was thought they had "found their hate transmitted into love" (175-176). Although Chillingworth was a frighteningly evil character, as long as the people didn't know his secret, he was kind enough to them. .
Its true Chillingworth had a good side. However, that was greatly outweighed by his evil qualities. Hester, a puritan who felt remorse her sins, thought "Be it sin or no sin I hate the man" (120). It was Hawthorne's that outer beauty reflected the inside beauty. Hawthorne described Chillingworth as "a deformed old figure" (119).
