Chillingworth was Hester’s real husband while
Dimmesdale was her lover
. Throughout the book, it could be said that they were opposites of each other. While Roger was lusting for revenge on Hester for what she had done with another man, Dimmesdale was hiding from the sin and adultery that he had committed with her.
What do Dimmesdale and Chillingworth have in common?
Chillingworth and Dimmesdale are
both in love with the same woman
, and both have a deep relationship with her. In comparison, both men have secrets. … Chillingworth wants to torture Dimmesdale so in order to do that he cannot let anyone know who he is. He is physically monstrous.
Why is the relationship between Chillingworth and Dimmesdale ironic?
Dimmesdale’s plea to Hester in Chapter 3 to name her fellow sinner: It is ironic
because he asks her to name her fellow sinner, when he himself is the anonymous sinner
. … In truth, Chillingworth only cares for Dimmesdale as his prey, who he tortures secretly by keeping Dimmesdale alive with his guilt.
What is Dimmesdale to Chillingworth?
In addition to provoking
Dimmesdale to contemplate leaving Boston with Hester
, Chillingworth exacerbates Dimmesdale’s illness by mentally torturing him, which eventually results in his death.
How does Dimmesdale feel about Chillingworth?
Feeling that he is in full possession of Dimmesdale’s secret, Chillingworth begins
his unrelenting torture of the minister
, subtly tormenting him with comments designed to trigger fear and agony. Dimmesdale does not realize Chillingworth’s motives, but he nonetheless comes to fear and abhor him.
Why does Chillingworth want to live with Dimmesdale?
What reason does Chillingworth give to the townspeople for wanting to live with Dimmesdale? Because
Dimmesdale does not have a wife, he needs a doctor to care for him
. They are both bachelors and can keep each other company. Chillingworth is in need of spiritual guidance.
Why do Chillingworth and Dimmesdale move next door to each other?
Reverend Dimmesdale has apparently fallen ill and because he refuses to marry, Chillingworth insists he move in with Dimmesdale
to act as a personal doctor
. … Chillingworth makes a remark about the fact Hester does not attempt to hide her sin and both men are careful not to reveal anything about being involved with her.
What is wrong with Dimmesdale?
Much to the community’s concern, Dimmesdale has been suffering from
severe health problems
. He appears to be wasting away, and he frequently clutches at his chest as though his heart pains him. … A majority of the townspeople begin to suspect that Chillingworth is the Devil, come to wage battle for Dimmesdale’s soul.
How are Hester and Dimmesdale similar?
The courage that those two share is quite similar, in that they have none. They both are afraid of the public and what the public would think of them.
Hester refuses to tell anyone about her real husband
, Chillingworth, who is still alive, or about her lover, Dimmesdale.
Why did Dimmesdale conceal his sin for seven years?
He spends seven years hiding
the fact that he was Hester’s lover
. During that time, he allows Chillingworth to torture him and he tortures himself. He allows Hester to shoulder the entire burden of shame, not to mention the burden of supporting herself and their child.
Why does Chillingworth hate Dimmesdale?
Chillingworth hates Dimmesdale.
Yet his thirst for revenge means that he can never be free of Dimmesdale
. So bound up is he in Dimmesdale, that he eventually moves in with him, in the guise of caring for him as the kindly physician. … When we seek revenge, we become the reflection of that which we hate.
What actions does Dimmesdale take to punish himself?
Dimmesdale begins to torture himself physically:
he scourges himself with a whip, he fasts, and he holds extended vigils, during which he stays awake throughout the night meditating upon his sin
.
How did Dimmesdale get the A on his chest?
At this point in the narrative, Chillingworth had been suspecting that something other than physical is gnawing away at the minister. He discovers that Dimmesdale,
out of the guilt and sadness he feels from what occurs with Hester
, has carved a letter “A” on his chest.
Why is Chillingworth the worst sinner?
Hawthorne labels him as the worst sinner
because of the selfish, harmful motives behind his actions
. Even though Dimmesdale and Hester committed sin in the eyes of society, theirs was a sin of passion and love. This is why Hawthorne labels Chillingworth as the worst sinner.
What sin did Chillingworth commit?
Chillingworth himself, however, intentionally commits the
sin of seeking revenge against his fellow man
.
Why does Chillingworth want to hurt Dimmesdale How do you know?
Chillingworth does want
revenge because
, as he says to Hester, this man “has wronged us both!” He feels that he shares some responsibility for Hester’s current condition, and so there is a balance of blame between the two of them; not so for the man she slept with, Dimmesdale.
