Scarlet Letter Essay: Chillingworth's Significance

The Scarlet Letter: Chillingworth’s Significance
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s morally diverse novel The Scarlet Letter provides a darkening perspective on the effects of sin, hypocrisy, and anguish portrayed in the human behavior of the villain. Fundamentally, “there are no secrets that time does not reveal”; therefore, Hawthorne enhances his purpose with the utilization of many antagonists whom portray this, but neither associating more importantly than Roger Chillingworth’s character. (Steen)
For instance, Hawthorne first introduces Chillingworth in the novel as Hester’s, the novel's transgressing protagonist, scholarly husband and, in which speculations suggest, his tragic voyage at sea. As the story progresses, Hester, whom interprets her husband’s absence as permanent, soon finds herself as a convict of committing adultery and is involuntarily condemned to the pillory as part of her
punishment. While Hester is on the scaffold, she looks into the crowd and couldn’t help but to strangely recognize a familiar face in the crowd. After a few more indications, Hester fully identifies whom it is, as did he, for it was her late spouse, Chillingworth. “When he found the eyes of Hester Prynne fastened on his own and saw that she appeared to recognize him, he slowly and calmly raised his finger, made a gesture with it in the air, and laid it on his lips” as if he were to say ‘Shhh, this will be our little secret.’ (Foster 53) This is important because it exposes one of the first secrets kept from Chillingworth; and undergoing it firsthand.
Consequently, Chillingworth’s character transforms into something darker, almost diabolical, and is echoed on henceforth in the novel. For, “think not that [he] shall interfere with Heaven’s own method of retribution, or, to [his] own loss, betray [Hester’s lover] to the to the gripe of human law. Neither do thou imagine that [he] shall contrive aught against [her lover’s] life, no, nor against his fame; if, as [Hester] judge[s], [her lover] be the man of fair repute. Let [her lover] live! Let [her lover] hide himself in outward honor, if he may! Not the less, [her lover] shall be [his]!” (Hawthorne, 64) Considering this, Chillingworth harkens satisfying justice done for Hester and her lover’s sin, but absolutely desired to
maximize the penalty; so he stayed quiet to see them suffer through the shame and guilt in their lives. In addition, he needed not to know whom Hester’s lover truly is, because sooner than later, he’d find out; and when he did, Hester’s lover would already be in his hands. This is important because it illuminates Chillingworth’s true dark nature in which, later in the novel, could tie in with him being referred to as a leech; sucking the life and secrets out of Reverend Dimmesdale, Hester’s lover.
Nevertheless, Hawthorne’s audience becomes even more morally unstable; for they have to choose between the rightful, villainous character or the sinful protagonist. At a certain point in the novel, “we can begin to understand how awful people exist and commit terrible crimes, without being implicated or sullied by those crimes.” (Foster 98) Unfortunately, the reader doesn’t sympathize Chillingworth, but instead comprehends where he is coming from and why he chooses to be so cruelly fixated. With regards, Chillingworth plays a very important part in the novel, for “a villain must be a thing of power, handled with delicacy and grace. He must be wicked enough to excite our aversion, strong enough to arouse our fear, [and] human enough to awaken some transient gleam of sympathy.” (Repplier) Whereas, the enormity of the power Chillingworth holds is fearsome, being that he holds all the cards in his hand; he knows who Hester’s lover is, he has to power and ability to physically or mentally attack Reverend Dimmesdale at any point in time, and his identity is secure. Meaning, if it wasn’t for Chillingworth, only Hester and Dimmesdale would know about each other; there would be no risk or purpose of anybody, not even the townsfolk, to find out who her lover is. But most importantly, Chillingworth provides the novel with a perfect villain, for his actions are understandable given his circumstances.