Roger Chillingworth
Hester's vengeful and manipulative husband, a physician.
Core Belief
"Chillingworth believes in the power of intellect and the pursuit of knowledge, but his desire for revenge corrupts his values and leads him to embrace evil. He loses faith in human goodness and becomes convinced that justice can only be achieved through personal retribution."
Worldview
Chillingworth's worldview is shaped by his intellectual curiosity and his desire to understand the workings of the human mind. He sees the world as a puzzle to be solved, and views Dimmesdale as a subject to be studied and manipulated.
Personality
Chillingworth is initially presented as an intellectual and somewhat detached scholar, but transforms into a sinister and obsessive figure consumed by revenge. He is cunning, manipulative, and ruthless in his pursuit of Dimmesdale, sacrificing his own humanity in the process.
In Their Own Words
"“Foolish woman!” responded the physician, half coldly, half soothingly. “What should ail me, to harm this misbegotten and miserable babe? The medicine is potent for good; and were it my child,—yea, mine own, as well as thine!—I could do no better for it.”"
"“He bears no letter of infamy wrought into his garment, as thou dost; but I shall read it on his heart. Yet fear not for him! Think not that I shall interfere with Heaven’s own method of retribution, or, to my own loss, betray him to the gripe of human law. Neither do thou imagine that I shall contrive aught against his life; no, nor against his fame, if, as I judge, he be a man of fair repute. Let him live! Let him hide himself in outward honor, if he may! Not the less he shall be mine!”"
"“Thou hast escaped me!” he repeated more than once. “Thou hast escaped me!”"
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