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September 14, 2005
The Scarlet Letter Ch.8-13
Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter (Ch 8-13) -- American Literature, 1800-1915 (EL 266)
I think one of the characters who seemed to add a definite mystery twist to Hawthorne's writing is Roger Chillingworth. As soon as I read "Sometimes light glimmered out of the physician's eyes burning blue and ominous, like the reflection of a furnace, or, let us say, like one of those gleams of ghastly fire..."(119), I made a connection with Chillingworth and the Devil. The "furnace" look in his eyes makes me feel that he is up to something more with Dimmesdale in the story, other than just helping him with his illness. When Hawthorne refers to him as the "leech", I thought of what leeches do...suck the blood out of people. Chillingworth is like a leech to Dimmesdale because he is trying to "suck" information out of him about Hester. I think he is trying to make him confess and feel even more terrible. Also, the fact that Chillingworth is associated with medicine makes me think he is the total opposite of Dimmesdale who is concerned with spirituality.
Posted by AshleyHoltzer at September 14, 2005 12:56 PM
Hey Ash,
Great observation on the meniachal scheme of Roger Chillingsworth. It is noticeable that he is contains a "leech-like" quality that is sucking the life out of and replacing the guilt in Dimmesdale. One thing that I noticed was Hawthorne's element to use physical ailments and deformities equalling to sin. You might want to consider that as well. Take care, and see you tomorrow!
Posted by: JasonPugh at September 14, 2005 10:46 PM
Yes, Jay, I noticed, too, that Hathorne expresses sin externally through his characters. Chillingworth's deformities and Dimmesdale's illlness could be compared to the sins coming outwards.
Posted by: Ashley Holtzer at September 15, 2005 12:35 PM
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