How is revenge shown in The Scarlet Letter?
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1850 novel, The Scarlet Letter powerfully explores themes of revenge. Through the character of Roger Chillingworth, Hawthorne demonstrates that revenge transforms the seeker into a hypocrite, as when Chillingworth befriends the man he hates, Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale, his wife, Hester Prynne’s lover.
What makes Dimmesdale decide to confess?
It can be said that Dimmesdale confessed in public because there was no other recourse for him. His body had become so physically weakened by the private “letter” that he wore and the shame that had built up in him.
What does Dimmesdale do at the end of Chapter 11?
It is not until the end of the novel that Dimmesdale frees himself from guilt by confessing his sin and standing upon the scaffold with Hester and Pearl during the light of day. This is the only act that could free him.
Why was the scarlet letter banned?
While the book was controversial upon its release in the 1850s (it was banned by the Russian Czar at the time) due to Hawthorne’s portrayal of Hester as a whole person with desires and feelings, you might not expect people to take the same tack so these days.
What is Dimmesdale’s Secret in The Scarlet Letter?
Dimmesdale’s secret poison is that he has not confessed his sin. It is bad enough that he committed that sin, but even worse, that he has allowed Hester to bear the burden of it all alone. He is as guilty as her, and has not confessed, and it eats away at him.
Why did Chillingworth die?
Chillingworth’s death is a result of the nature of his character. After Dimmesdale dies, Chillingworth no longer has a victim. Similarly, Dimmesdale’s revelation that he is Pearl’s father removes Hester from the old man’s clutches. Having lost the objects of his revenge, the leech has no choice but to die.
What was Chillingworth’s revenge?
The act of revenge that Chillingworth began in The Scarlet Letter changed and developed into a ruthless and forever lasting obsession. He explains to his wife, Hester Prynne, that the baby’s father will be confronted and that they will be punished as severely as she was.
What is Chapter 11 about in The Scarlet Letter?
Summary—Chapter 11: The Interior of a Heart His struggles allow him to empathize with human weakness, and he thus addresses “the whole human brotherhood in the heart’s native language.” Although the reverend deeply yearns to confess the truth of his sin to his parishioners, he cannot bring himself to do so.
What is Chillingworth’s plan of revenge Chapter 11?
Revenge- Chillingworth plans to make revenge on Dimmesdale because he figures he is an evil person. Revenge is getting. Hypocrisy- Everyday, Dimmesdale has to wake up and receive the adulation of his community for being basically a saint on earth.
Why is Scarlet Letter important?
The scarlet letter is meant to be a symbol of shame, but instead it becomes a powerful symbol of identity to Hester. The letter’s meaning shifts as time passes. Like Pearl, the letter functions as a physical reminder of Hester’s affair with Dimmesdale. …
What is the theme of Chapter 12 in The Scarlet Letter?
“Witchcraft” offers salvation while religion offers sin. A meteor lights up the sky in what Dimmesdale thinks is the shape of an “A.” Pearl notices Chillingworth watching them. Chillingworth, looking like an “arch-fiend,” urges Dimmesdale to get down from the scaffold. He and Dimmesdale return home.
How is Chapter 11 significant to the theme of the novel?
Chapter XI of The Scarlet Letter is significant to the theme of the psychological effects of sin in two ways: 1. In the paradox of Dimmesdale’s futile attempts at public confession, he increases his guilt. For, the more he asserts his own sinfulness, the more the townspeople perceive him as a holy man.
Who is the villain in The Scarlet Letter?
Roger Chillingworth
Does Chillingworth die?
Left with no object for his malice, Chillingworth wastes away and dies within a year of the minister’s passing, leaving a sizable inheritance to Pearl. Then, shortly after Chillingworth’s death, Hester and Pearl disappear.
What was Chillingworth’s real name?
What did Dimmesdale confess?
She, as the sin, is stopping him from going peacefully, because he must go in truth and honesty because he is a well nurtured man. Dimmesdale confesses his sin in the only way that he knows to be true, in front of all the people he was dishonest to and through the influence of God.