Roger Chillingworth
Roger Chillingworth: a mad man, or a man driven to madness? This is a question that many readers of Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter" have decided by the time they reach the final chapter, really without thinking about it. Yet, if the story is reviewed, and one looks at the events that either happen directly because of Chillingworth, or how these events effected him, you may realize that he is a product, rather than a cause of pain. Throughout the work, it is clearly shown that he, like so many others over the time of history, is a product of earlier events and situations. And in these situations, he didn't make the right choice in how to handle the problem. He did not choose the rational path of problem solving. Even from the very beginning when he is faced with the fact that his wife has given her body to another man, he hides his identity and protects himself from being affiliated with her. That being the first, and beginning example of his poor ability to decide the correct and rational solution to a problem or hard situation. So, because of this fact, he decides, or is more less driven to go to the devil in order to help his mortal self fulfill yet another bad decision...revenge. From the first time Nathaniel Hawthor
By this time, everyone is on to Chillingworth and his plans. Hester tells Arthur of his true identity, and Dimmesdale seems to find the courage to state that Chillingworth had sinner greater than him, and that his own sin was out of love, rather than Chillingworth's which was out of hate. Hawthorne leaves a lot to wonder about this character he called Roger Chillingworth, like his past, his thoughts, and his feelings. Hopefully, Hawthorne didn't leave all that potential information out of his classic because he had a sore hand, but rather so that readers of all kinds could develop different emotional attachments to him. Missing facts so that men and women can place their own past in place of his, or so that they can feel his pain or understand his madness because they fit him to themselves. The reader's reaction to Dimmesdale's statement is a sure fire sign of whether you were a believer in Chillingworth, or if you believed him to be mad at the beginning. ne begins to describe Dr. Prynne (a.k.a. Roger Chillingworth) he uses Hester to show that he is very normal in some aspects, yet very different in others. He is a mid aged man, whom wears his age well. But a small shoulder misalignment, causes slight distinction from the rest of the crowd. His facial features told of his intelligence, and his clothes were of a mix, some civilized, some savage. When he came onto the scene, while Hester was on the scaffold with baby Pearl, he hid his identity from the crowd, and merely asked of what the commotion was all about. The news hit him hard, yet, consistent with Chillingworth throughout the story, he does not show it with outward gestures. He asked one of the onlookers if she had told the name of the man whom took advantage of Hester, but was told that she would not break the privy. Chillingworth, filled with the bitterness of betrayal, confronted the sinner and asked personally, of whom committed the sin with her, but again, she would not tell. For the fact that Chillingworth would "protect" Dimmesdale from public ridicule in order to keep his mind prime and his soul ready for the abusive arrows he had strapped to his one raised shoulder, shows the sickness and influence that Chillingworth is consumed with. Knowing that the misery that comes from the public would not quench his thirst for revenge, Chillingworth continued to try in keep control over the situation. By now, Chillingworth is showing his emotional hurricane through his physical features. His face is becoming aged and wrinkled. His complexity has been mellowed with the look of years. Obviously a sign that emotional strain takes it's physical toll on the body. Things start to fall apart, and Dimmesdale finds it easier to over come his enemy rather than his conscience, and moments before his own death, stands on the scaffold with Hester and Pearl. Chillingworth tries in vain to stop him from making his public confession, but Dimmesdale does not listen and stands. He stands and confesses, but depending on which side of the fence you are on when it comes to Dimmesdale, it's a good thing or not. Either he finally came to the truth, or he found the courage when there was no risk. Either way, he stands, proclaims, and then dies. Yet the death of Chillingworth's project sent him aimlessly into "space". He had no place to go, nothing to do, for his job was over, and now he was only to live till he died. Within the year of Dimmsedale's death, Chillingworth dies a lonely, bitter man with no direction or motivation and a soul and heart of ice. Just to place a little icing on the cake, he leaves much land and wealth in Europe and America to Pearl. Hawthorne does not spend anytime or detail on Dr. Prynne's history. All that is presented is that Hester
Some common words found in the essay are:
Scarlet Letter, Chillingworth Hester, Truly Chillingworth, Pearl Chillingworth, Dimmesdale Chillingworth, Hester Dimmesdale, Dr Prynne, Hopefully Hawthorne, Dr Prynne's, Roger Chillingworth, roger chillingworth, scaffold hester pearl, dimmesdale public, advantage hester, dimmesdale listen, chillingworth agree, scarlet letter, dr prynne, scaffold hester, hester pearl, pearl chillingworth, hester pearl chillingworth,
Approximate Word count = 2539
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
