In Laura Hanft Korobkin’s “The Scarlet Letter of the Law: Hawthorne and Criminal Justice,” she believes that The Scarlet Letter is an example of Lincoln’s doctrine of obedience to law. Hester and Chillingworth play two different roles. Hester follows Lincoln’s philosophy, which is that she submits herself to the law. Hester receives a “humane sentence most striking in its failure to include physical punishment” (Korobkin). Hester is an example of someone who excepts the law. However, Chillingworth goes against Lincoln’s philosophy and tries to prosecute Dimmesdale without authoritarian approval. He tries to take the role of the judge, jury, and executioner and wants to control the power to investigate and punish Dimmesdale for having Hester’s
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He takes the role of a doctor and is welcomed by the townspeople. However, the townspeople don’t know that Chillingworth is a cuckold and he is extremely ashamed of Hester cheating on him. Since Dimmesdale has been suffering from health problems and refuses to marry any of the women, Chillingworth persuades the town leadership to have Chillingworth live with Dimmesdale and take care of him. With this idea, Chillingworth may cure Dimmesdale. Originally, the townspeople were grateful for Chillingworth coming to town, but as time passes rumors spread about Chillingworth’s past history. Soon, Chillingworth's face has begins to have an evil look. The townspeople begin to believe that Chillingworth is the Devil who has come to take Dimmesdale’s soul. “This purpose once effected, new interests would immediately spring up, and likewise a new purpose; dark, it is true, if not guilty, but of force enough to engage the full strength of his faculties” (Hawthorne 108). This supports the critic’s position that Chillingworth is motivated to be a vigilante because he has a dark purpose to go and torture Dimmesdale rather than let the court punish Dimmesdale. The critic’s position is supported because in Chapter 24 Hester returns to New England to comfort and counsel people and they accept her although she committed adultery. Chillingworth, who does not follow the law, ages quickly and dies shortly
He takes the role of a doctor and is welcomed by the townspeople. However, the townspeople don’t know that Chillingworth is a cuckold and he is extremely ashamed of Hester cheating on him. Since Dimmesdale has been suffering from health problems and refuses to marry any of the women, Chillingworth persuades the town leadership to have Chillingworth live with Dimmesdale and take care of him. With this idea, Chillingworth may cure Dimmesdale. Originally, the townspeople were grateful for Chillingworth coming to town, but as time passes rumors spread about Chillingworth’s past history. Soon, Chillingworth's face has begins to have an evil look. The townspeople begin to believe that Chillingworth is the Devil who has come to take Dimmesdale’s soul. “This purpose once effected, new interests would immediately spring up, and likewise a new purpose; dark, it is true, if not guilty, but of force enough to engage the full strength of his faculties” (Hawthorne 108). This supports the critic’s position that Chillingworth is motivated to be a vigilante because he has a dark purpose to go and torture Dimmesdale rather than let the court punish Dimmesdale. The critic’s position is supported because in Chapter 24 Hester returns to New England to comfort and counsel people and they accept her although she committed adultery. Chillingworth, who does not follow the law, ages quickly and dies shortly