The Scarlet Letter: Part 3

This section of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne reveals a lot about the true underlying personalities behind some of the key players in this book. I love how Hawthorne adds so much depth to these characters, and really gives them a lot of, well, character. HIs depiction of them really helps bring the story to life and adds new meaning to the story.

We learn a lot about Roger Chillingworth's character in this section. He becomes the town doctor, and Reverend Dimmesdale becomes one of his regular customers. They seemingly become friends, but Roger Chillingworth has an ulterior motive. He believes that Dimmesdale is Pearls father, and the sickness Dimmesdale is feeling is guilt for what he’d done. He is described as being in pain, and always holding his hands over his heart. Eventually, the townspeople convince them to move into a house together, and Chillingworth spends all of his time torturing him and badgering Dimmesdale in hopes of finding out the truth behind his sickness. At one point, Hester and Pearl happen upon their house, and Pearl points at Chillingworth and warns Hester not to go near “The Black Man”, which is another name for the devil. This whole scene shines a whole different light on Roger Chillingworth’s character.

Reverend Dimmesdale gets more depth in this section, as well. He still delivers sermon, even though he is a sinner, and even telling the congregation that makes them feel that his sermons are even more powerful. His guilt becomes so prominent that he gets in the habit of punishing and whipping himself, and see’s images of Hester and Pearl and his parents. He is so filled with grief that at one point, he goes out on the pillory (the same one Hester had to stand on at the beginning of the book) and screams, hoping some people will come. This is a very relatable feeling for most people, even if the situation itself is a little far-fetched. Hester and Pearl come and find him, and they all hold hands as a meteor shoots through the sky, illuminating a letter “A” in the sky.

In this section, I began to notice a motif of Reverend Dimmesdale holding his heart in a sort of pained manor. Not so much physical pain, but a heartache kind of pain. This is most likely connected with his guilt and sympathy for Hester and the fact that she’s forced to wear this letter embroidered on her chest. This sympathy shows a lot about his character. One of my favorite examples is when Dimmesdale is publicly advocating for Hester, and he says, “‘She will not speak!’ murmured Mr. Dimmesdale, who, leaning over the balcony, with his hand upon his heart,

had awaited the result of his appeal. He now drew back with a long respiration. ‘Wondrous strength arid generosity of a woman’s heart! She will not speak!’” (Hawthorne 109).