Chillingworth And Dimmesdale's Relationship In The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne tells not only the story of Hester Prynne’s sin, but also shows wickedness behind Roger Chillingworth’s and Arthur Dimmesdale’s public appearances. In The Scarlet Letter, the two men who both have feelings for Hester clash with each other and even themselves. Throughout the novel, Chillingworth and Dimmesdale have a rather dark and twisted relationship. Although the pair start off as friends somewhat and do try to at least be respectful to one another, neither can shake off the bad vibes they are sensing from each other. This leads to Chillingworth’s outright questioning of Dimmesdale’s sins and secrets, and Dimmesdale’s growing curiosity of Chillingworth’s true identity. In a way, they use each other to make themselves feel better. Chillingworth uses Dimmesdale as a way of venting his anger out by making remarks and

Hester and Dimmesdale spend the course of the story trying to make things right, whereas Chillingworth spends the novel continuing to consciously live in his sin. The two of them are constantly working to try and make up for what they have done, though they beat around the bush. Hester still contributes to the town even though receives nothing but disgust and disrespect from its members, and Dimmesdale , Unlike Chillingworth, Dimmesdale is wise enough to be able to forgive after finding out that Hester has been hiding Chillingworth’s identity. “I do forgive you, Hester,’ replied the minister, at length, with a deep utterance, out of an abyss of sadness, but no anger. “I freely forgive you now. May God forgive us both! We are not, Hester, the worst sinners in the world.” (178-179). Due to his own sin, Dimmesdale understood what Hester was feeling and was able to rise above his anger and be merciful. If Chillingworth had been able to do the same and haf let go of his anger earlier, his fate might have been