Roger Chillingworth In The Scarlett Letter

850 Words4 Pages
Reading Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, “The Scarlett Letter”, a very grave question pops up into the conscience of the readers: “What character in the story has committed the most sinful acts?”. One reader can propose that Hester Prynne was sinful for not only she committed adultery behind her husband’s back, but to yet entice a Christian Clergy. A few would argue that Roger Chillingworth would be hold responsible for planning to act on cold revenge against the adulterer. Despite that all two characters executed horrible sins, Arthur Dimmesdale, also known as the Reverend, perpetrate the most sinful acts of all. For being not only a disciple of God himself, but act such as a “messenger” or “role model” for the citizen of the colony. The Massachusetts…show more content…
“[I] charge thee to speak out the name of the fellow-sinner and fellow-sufferer!” (Dimmesdale 102). Not only to “prosecute”, but brave enough to ask her the identity of the adulterer (him). Hypocrite for exhorting to others to confession, but not to himself, a man that is at dishonest, is a flaw tool. As it proceeds, Hester chose not to name the adulterer, in which that Dimmesdale “drew back with a long respiration” (Hawthorne 104). Not only the evidence of his relief was revealed, but to hide the truth just only prolong the suffering. Sooner or later, judgment day will roll by, either to be steam-rolled or to be…show more content…
They would plead that he had enough punishments already. “In Mr. Dimmesdale’s secret closet, under lock and key, there was a bloody scourge” (Hawthorne 217). Of this was the very whip that “Protestant and Puritan divine had plied it on his own shoulders […] rigorously, an until his knees trembled beneath him, as an act of penance” (Hawthorne 217) and that of “through fast and vigil” (Hawthorne 333) in which Dimmesdale desperately sought penance. Even if the Reverend tortured himself to death, the iniquitous deed was already concluded. Pity can have its tolerance, but not only cheat the husband, but to conceive a living life is intolerable, a daily reminder for Roger Chillingworth. Putting aside the consequence of such named sins from the Bible, the very words of Arthur Dimmesdale expel any further commiseration. “There is no substance in it! Of penance, I have enough! Of penitence, there has been none!” (Dimmesdale 288). The Reverend admits that there is not much, or specifically none he can do to repent himself. The only way is to let God himself decide, to truly decide, is to adhere to the Bible, in which an adulterer is condemned to
Show More
Related

  • Chillingworth's Quest For Truth In The Scarlet Letter

    1233 Words  | 5 Pages

    Period 3 8 December 2014 Chillingworth’s Quest for Truth Roger Chillingworth, the infamous cold man of ‘science’ seeks vengeance against Hester’s lover and narrows down his pursuit to the feeble and oblivious Dimmesdale. This excerpt from The Scarlett Letter occurs when Chillingworth earns a reputation in the town, and proceeds to live with Dimmesdale in order to unravel the sins of the unholy minister. Throughout the passage, Chillingworth searches for the truth behind Dimmesdale and searches Dimmesdale’s

    Read More

  • Scarlet Letter Critical Analysis

    1587 Words  | 7 Pages

    Everything begins in a seventeenth century settlement which back then was a puritan society. A young woman, whose name is Hester Prynne, is taken from the parish prison with her little baby, Pearl, in her arms and the scarlet letter “A” perfectly visible in her breast. Nathaniel Hawthorne shows us immediately what is happening by exposing the people’s comments. A man explained to another that the woman had been punished for adultery. Hester’s arrived a long time ago there. She had been sent by her

    Read More

  • The Minotaur By Ted Hughes Essay

    970 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Greek mythology, the Minotaur was a monstrous beast part man part bull, which fed on human flesh and lived in a labyrinth in Crete. In Ted Hughes’ poem, the Minotaur is a symbolism of Sylvia Plath’s father Otto and a metaphoric representation of Otto’s rage, ferocity and terrorism of his daughter. Whilst the labyrinth is metaphorically speaking the complexity and madness that is Sylvia’s mind. 
Hughes begins his poem with lurid violence, anger and frustration. “The mahogany table-top you smashed”

    Read More

More about Roger Chillingworth In The Scarlett Letter

Open Document