A Characterization of Roger Chillingworth in The Scarlet Letter:
The Retributive Scientist
In The Scarlet Letter , Roger Chillingworth is the antagonist of the novel. Roger Chillingworth, once a kind, true and affectionate man, turns into a man full of vengeance and rage after his wife, Hester Prynne, commits adultery with a man named Arthur Dimmesdale. Chillingworth begins to seek revenge for the man who committed this sin with his wife, which turns him into the cruel and twisted man that he becomes. Roger Chillingworth’s appearance, occupation and motive all resemble pure evil and a human representation of vengeance. Through Chillingworth’s demise we gain a greater understanding of Hawthorne’s themes, primarily the idea that revenge can only lead to one’s own demise. …show more content…
As Hester is being exhibited to the town and is fulfilling her punishment she notices her husband, Chillingworth, in the crowd. Hawthorne describes Chillingworth in the beginning of the novel as a far from attractive man. He is slightly deformed with one shoulder higher than the other, thin and small. As Chillingworth finds out the identity of his wife's adulterer, he seeks revenge after him and looks to punish him for what he did. Throughout the years Chillingworth’s appearance gets worse and worse as he punishes Dimmesdale more and more. As years pass and Chillingworth punishes and tears down Dimmesdale repeatedly, Chillingworth's health grows weaker and his appearance more repulsive. As further more years pass, Chillingworth passes away. The desire to see Dimmesdale’s demise consumed Chillingworth alive. Hawthorne demonstrates the deterioration of Roger Chillingworth’s mind and body, to illustrate that revenge can not only damage another person’s mind and health, but can damage one’s own mind and health as
The Retributive Scientist
In The Scarlet Letter , Roger Chillingworth is the antagonist of the novel. Roger Chillingworth, once a kind, true and affectionate man, turns into a man full of vengeance and rage after his wife, Hester Prynne, commits adultery with a man named Arthur Dimmesdale. Chillingworth begins to seek revenge for the man who committed this sin with his wife, which turns him into the cruel and twisted man that he becomes. Roger Chillingworth’s appearance, occupation and motive all resemble pure evil and a human representation of vengeance. Through Chillingworth’s demise we gain a greater understanding of Hawthorne’s themes, primarily the idea that revenge can only lead to one’s own demise. …show more content…
As Hester is being exhibited to the town and is fulfilling her punishment she notices her husband, Chillingworth, in the crowd. Hawthorne describes Chillingworth in the beginning of the novel as a far from attractive man. He is slightly deformed with one shoulder higher than the other, thin and small. As Chillingworth finds out the identity of his wife's adulterer, he seeks revenge after him and looks to punish him for what he did. Throughout the years Chillingworth’s appearance gets worse and worse as he punishes Dimmesdale more and more. As years pass and Chillingworth punishes and tears down Dimmesdale repeatedly, Chillingworth's health grows weaker and his appearance more repulsive. As further more years pass, Chillingworth passes away. The desire to see Dimmesdale’s demise consumed Chillingworth alive. Hawthorne demonstrates the deterioration of Roger Chillingworth’s mind and body, to illustrate that revenge can not only damage another person’s mind and health, but can damage one’s own mind and health as