Homosexuality In Scarlet Letter

It appears to the average English student that every piece of classic literature features only heterosexual characters. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne appears no different to most students; the plot follows the affair of the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale and Hester Prynne, which is, technically speaking, heterosexual. It only makes sense for older literature to have ‘old fashioned’ values. However, the claim that The Scarlet Letter is primarily straight can be somewhat dispelled by one name: Roger Chillingworth. Monika Elbert’s article, Hester on the Scaffold, Dimmesdale in the Closet: Hawthorne’s Seven Year Itch, explores the relationship between Chillingworth and Dimmesdale throughout the novel. Perhaps, contrary to popular belief,

There is a point when, Chillingworth removes Dimmesdale’s shirt while he sleeps to inspect his chest, where he has covered for no clear reason. Chillingworth has what is described as a “look of wonder” and a “moment of ecstasy (Hawthorne, 143). I’ve personally read a lot of LGBT fiction in my life, and I feel qualified to say that there is nothing heterosexual about those descriptions. Clearly, there is some kind of sexual tension between the two men. They live together, take long walks on the beach (Hawthorne, 126), and continually think about each other. However, it’s important to note that Chillingworth thinks about Dimmesdale to figure out how best to torture him as revenge for sleeping with his wife and Dimmesdale is thinking about Chillingworth to discover how to hide his scarred chest. Even though these men could be considered enemies, there is something between them. Passion can take its form in hatred in place of love, but intense feelings are extreme no matter the context. Moreover, one may question Prynne’s relationship to the two men if there truly were homosexual undertones. While bisexuality can simply explain Dimmesdale’s feelings, Chillingworth is more attracted to power than he is to gender. It’s important to consider that Dimmesdale has more affection for Chillingworth than he does for Prynne. Dimmesdale only begins to whip himself after he gets closer to Chillingworth,

Sometimes, a lot can be learned about closets, heteronormativity, and compulsory heterosexuality if we look at works such as The Scarlet Letter in a different way. Elbert agrees and works to inspire others to do the same. Whether sexual in nature or not, there is something strong between Dimmesdale and Chillingworth and the way marriages are written or expressed. The classics are often defined by such relationships. Hawthorne also relates his personal experiences with Sophia into his writing like many others do. Throughout the novel, the dynamics between the characters shift in various ways which redefine the way we