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Compare And Contrast Dimmesdale And Chillingworth

1021 Words5 Pages

Noah Brooks
Mrs. Garcia
Honors English
March 6, 2017
Scarlet Letter Essay There are no two characters who display a stronger opposition than Roger Chillingworth and Arthur Dimmesdale in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Throughout the novel, the characters’ stark contrast acts as a constant reminder of this opposition. However, Chillingworth and Dimmesdale share many key similarities in their personalities, beliefs, and motivation. The differences and similarities the two exhibit in these aspects of their character drive them down comparable paths. Dimmesdale and Chillingworth’s personalities display some of the most obvious differences in their character. When Hawthorne introduces Arthur Dimmesdale, he refers to “Reverend Master …show more content…

For example, both Chillingworth and Dimmesdale’s actions are full of hypocrisies. Boston respects Dimmesdale for his moral integrity, yet he and Hester’s sin cause all the events of the novel. Chillingworth also demands that Hester to hide his true identity because Chillingworth “will not encounter the dishonor that besmirches the husband of a faithless woman,” (Hawthorne 57; ch.4). However, Chillingworth believes there is no dishonor in secretly torturing Dimmesdale. Both also believe that they are not at fault for their own mistakes. Chillingworth throughout the novel commits himself to a life of revenge and willingly commits acts of evil; nevertheless, Chillingworth blames Hester and Dimmesdale for making him into a villain (Hawthorne 132; ch.14). Dimmesdale believes that Hester is lucky because she wears “the scarlet letter openly upon [her] bosom,” and he suffers because he hides his guilt (Hawthorne 148; ch.17); although, any time Dimmesdale wished, he could reveal himself as Hester’s fellow adulterer. Both Chillingworth and Dimmesdale believe that they are exempt from responsibility which leads the two towards their

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