(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

Dimmesdale and Chillingworth

            Reverend Dimmesdale and his physician, Roger Chillingworth, experience several transformations in their character. Such are evidenced by Hawthorne not only with their actions but with vehement portrayals of the manifestation of their character in their visage and gestures. The intimacy in their kinship reaches a level where Roger Chillingworth reveals his slyness and gives the readers some hints as to why he doesn't seem to be as trustworthy, like characterized in previous chapters. Nevertheless, his ability to manipulate makes it possible for Dimmesdale to consider him a confidant, thus making it possible for Chillingworth to explore Dimmesdale and use him as he wants. Mr. Chillingworth uses his inquisitive skills to reach into his patient's vulnerability and obtain the information he seeks. .
             Chillingworth's character changes from Hawthorne's portrayal of a venerable and benevolent man to a manipulative and selfish individual. Chillingworth becomes the Reverend's "leech" that uses his intuition to sense a great burden in Dimmesdale's soul. This physician comments on the importance of revealing one's sins in order to accept the blame and rid of a burden that may cause physical damage. Chillingworth affirms that men who don't reveal their sins " deceive themselves They fear to take up the shame that rightfully belongs to them their zeal for God's service, these holy impulses may or may not coexist in their hearts with the evil inmates" (122). Roger plans out his comments in order to emit an indirect message and perceive a reaction from the Reverend. The sinister physician questions the Reverend's integrity, " a false show can be better than God's own truth?" (122). Such suggestive affirmations and comments intimidate the Reverend to a point where he is vulnerable and open for Chillingworth to poke into his mind and soul.
             Mr. Chillingworth's inquisitions are clever and pose questions that seem to inflict anxiety and worry in the clergyman that exteriorize his vulnerability.


Essays Related to Dimmesdale and Chillingworth

1. The Scarlet Letter: Chillingworths urge for revenge

Chillingworth moves in with Dimmesdale to keep a close watch on him. ... Chillingworth is so fixed with revenge on Dimmesdale that he begins to follow him at night. ... Chillingworth and Dimmesdale's appearances start changing. The more information Chillingworth gets out of Dimmesdale about Hester, the more Dimmesdale appear to be dead, the life is being taken away from him. Hester and Dimmesdale arrange a secret trip to Europe in which Chillingworth doesn't know. ...

  • Word Count: 443
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Dimmesdale

It is ironic that Dimmesdale is friends with Chillingworth as they should be enemies. When Chillingworth opens Dimmesdale's shirt, he is overjoyed. ... Chillingworth does so because once Dimmesdale confesses, he has no reason so torture him anymore. ... Chillingworth goes far enough to follow Dimmesdale, Hester and Pearl to Great Britain to seek his revenge. ... This is because Dimmesdale had already confessed so Chillingworth had nothing to live for and his motive to do evil had faded with Dimmesdale's death. ...

  • Word Count: 1619
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Chillingworth as Satan?

First, Hawthorne sets Chillingworth up as the antithesis of Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, the obvious Christ-like symbol of the novel. Chillingworth avidly sets out to ruin Dimmesdale. As the narrative voice says when referring to Chillingworth's discovery of the Dimmesdale's secret, "All that guilty sorrow, hidden from the world, whose great heart would have pitied and forgiven, to be revealed to him, the Pitiless, to him, the Unforgiving!" ... Symbolically, on another more obvious note, Chillingworth steals one of Dimmesdale's gloves and drops it on the scaffold where sinners ar...

  • Word Count: 307
  • Approx Pages: 1
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Scarlet Letter - Chillingworth A Torn Man

The public, including Dimmesdale, perceives Chillingworth as a parishioner, medical advisor, and a friend to Dimmesdale. ... The reader knows that Chillingworth became close to Dimmesdale in order to discover if Dimmesdale was Hester's sexual partner. ... By chapter XI, Dimmesdale comes to fear and loathe Chillingworth without even realizing Chillingworth's motives. ... Chillingworth tries to play God by forcing Dimmesdale to repent. ... Once Dimmesdale's confession leaves his lips, Chillingworth is defeated. ...

  • Word Count: 1082
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography

5. Chillingworth: Friend or Fiend

Prynne believed that Chillingworth had died years earlier and soon began her adulterous relationship with Arthur Dimmesdale, a beloved minister in the town. ... With Dimmesdale's deteriorating health, Chillingworth eagerly suggests that he live with him. ... During Dimmesdale's "treatment," it is hinted that Chillingworth may be on the propinquity of evil. ... At the end of the story, Dimmesdale reveals his secret (that he was indeed the father of Pearl) and therefore Chillingworth has no target for his mania. ... With Roger Chillingworth's one ambition of destroying Arthur ...

  • Word Count: 529
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

6. The Scarlet Letter: Roger Chillingworth

To begin, the one that Chillingworth wanted to seek revenge on was Dimmesdale. ... It seems that Chillingworth's ultimate revenge was allowing Dimmesdale to live and go insane. ... Chillingworth's final negative effect on Dimmesdale was causing his death. ... Once Hester found out Chillingworth knew that Dimmesdale as Pearl's father, she wanted to warn Dimmesdale of this revelation. ... Dimmesdale's death, in the appearance and demeanor of the old man known as Roger Chillingworth. ...

  • Word Count: 1529
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

7. The Scarlet Letter-villainy

Chillingworth's villainy is mainly derived from the anger he has toward his wife for having an affair with Dimmesdale, the Reverend of the town. ... He longs for revenge because of the affair between his wife and Dimmesdale, the protagonist of the novel. ... Hester betrayed Chillingworth and in return he wants revenge on Dimmesdale. ... Puritans usually had a passion for what they did, and his passion was to seek revenge on Dimmesdale. ... Chillingworth's villainy enhances this by showing that he is willing to make Dimmesdale suffer and help Dimmesdale's guilt eat away at h...

  • Word Count: 670
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Roger chillingworth in the scarlet letter

The minister, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth became friends. ... 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. ... Secrets were an important factor dealing with Chillingworth, Dimmesdale, and Hester. ... Dimmesdale questioned "Will he keep our secret?" ...

  • Word Count: 473
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

9. Dimmesdale

Dimmesdale: Someone from Above or Below? ... This "rollercoaster- that Dimmesdale faces becomes his battle with fantasy and reality. ... This also happens to Chillingworth at the end of the novel, but unlike Dimmesdale, Chillingworth never leaves this state of mind where he thinks his life is over and cannot continue on with life. ... Although Hester also finds a different way to look at a problem, Dimmesdale doesn't just look but acts upon what he feels. ... Even though Hester, Chillingworth, and Pearl all show the characteristics of central characters at some point or another, it is ...

  • Word Count: 818
  • Approx Pages: 3

Got a writing question? Ask our professional writer!
Submit My Question