Saturday, September 6, 2014

Why does Chillingworth refuse to leave Dimmesdale alone?This goes with chapter 14 of The Scarlet Letter

Chillingworth knows that Dimmesdale is a sinner, yet a
reputable man of faith, and that the silent pursuit of him will destroy him from the
inside out. Not to mention, Chillingworth has a personal vendetta against Dimmsdale for
performing an act with the woman Chillingworth thought was his very own. Vengence can
move people to do terrible things to each other. Chillingworth respectfully helps
maintain Dimmesdale's anonymity from the crime that he participated in with Hester, but
it is almost as if helping prevent the truth from coming out only further hurts
Dimmesdale. This personal attack gives Chillingworth purpose and a false sense of
satisfaction since he can't seem to get it from having a wife who loves him. His
promised wife, Hester Prynne, seems to have already consumated with a man (Dimmesdale),
and is therefore now impure and less desirable. At least the pursuit of the man who
destroyed her gives Chillingworth some value and purpose.

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