Scarlet Letter Revenge Quotes

Revenge is the action of infliction, hurt or harm on someone for an injury or wrong suffered at their hands. In the novel The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, revenge is a key feature between the characters of the book. Chillingworth seeks revenge against Hester Prynne and her partner, who is revealed to be Reverend Dimmesdale, due to her unfaithfulness towards her former lover. Revenge affects Chillingworth’s relationship with the two lovers as well as his internal and external self. Thus, his obsession with revenge is seen by many, and will later consume him and lead to his death. Revenge is seen throughout The Scarlet Letter from Hester Prynne’s previous husband and Dimmesdale’s doctor and companion, Chillingworth. The fixation

It is expressed to the reader that Chillingworth’s appearance and relationships were greatly affected by revenge. Chillingworth became evil-like and ugly, a direct consequence of his passion. Although, the internal affects came first, and his physical changes came afterwards. The penalties Chillingworth experiences within his inner self is revealed when Hawthorne describes his dramatic transition from sensible to wicked by saying “All his strength and energy-all his vital and intellectual force- seemed at away and almost vanished from moral sight” (XXIV, 212). Chillingworth was at first described as an older man who possessed a mind full of boundless understanding and insight, but later the enlightened thoughts that previously controlled him were severely altered after his arrival to Boston. It is ironic that knowledge is what made him sensible, but too much information or the report of his wife’s sins is what transformed him. Hester Prynne’s perspective on Chillingworth is also important when realizing the effects of revenge. Prynne was acquainted with him romantically before her humiliation; she expresses her disappointing realization of his change by stating “for the hatred that has transformed a wise and just man to a fiend!” (XIV, 143). Prynne’s description of his alteration accurately defines what Chillingworth used to be, and what he has become. The husband she

Chillingworth reveals his leech-like relationship with Dimmesdale after the realization that the reverend was in fact Prynne’s lover, by declaring “What evil have I done the man? Asked Roger Chillingworth again. I tell thee, Hester Prynne, the richest fee that ever physician earned from monarch could not have bought such care as I wasted on the miserable priest!” (XIV, 141) Hawthorne’s usage of the word “wasted” depicts the gradual change in the physician and reverends relationship. The assumption the reader accurately makes about the change in their companionship is that before Chillingworth made the connection to the two mistresses, their relationship was rather normal. The physician was doing the job of treating his patient, but after he realizes Dimmesdale is the man he was searching for treatment continued, although, the” medicine” given to him only prolonged his failing health and lead to the accumulation of his guilt. Not only is Dimmesdale and Chillingworth’s relationship changed, Chillingworth and Hester Prynne’s connection faces the most drastic but also expected transformation. The change is displayed through their first interaction after Chillingworth is informed about her other relationship from a townsmen. When the two finally meet the author describes the scene as full of fear and