Roger Chillingsworth In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

Roger Chillingsworth in The Scarlet Letter develops as a character immensely over the progress of the novel. He starts out as a quiet and weak man- it is what you expect from someone who was cheated on by their wife. He develops his character over time as he grows stronger and more devilish. His psyche is revealed when you look deeper into his personality, and his “subconscious”. From chapter 9 and onward, we see Chillingsworth developing into the character that he really is. His ego and his id impact his character change throughout the chapters, and becomes a satanic figure of sorts. The “id” is defined as “the most primitive part of the personality” (handout). It is our basic concept for us to satisfy our needs. In the novel, Chillingsworth creates a devotion to revenge his name. His determination and willpower show us his “id”. He needs his name to be clear. Another significant part of Chillingsworth personality is his ego. He satisfies his ego by concealing his name and identity as being Hester’s husband. He reveals his true character through his ego and his “id” and it helps the reader determine his motivations and how he wants to be seen.

Chillingsworth has a gut feeling that Dimmensdale is the one that Hester committed adultery with, and is Pearl’s father. He forges a relationship with Dimmensdale to torture and to get revenge on him for what he did with Hester. Chapter 9, also referred to as “The Leech”, is a significant chapter with the introduction to their relationship. Chillingsworth is being described as a leech because he wants to suck the life out of Dimmensdale. Chillingsworth’s torture and revenge are working slowly, and the anxiety of Arthur Dimmensdale is slowly killing