The Effects of Sin

The life of the author of The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and its various events are invariably represented in his novel. Nathaniel was born into a family in Salem, Mass. on July 4th, 1804. His father, John Hawthorne was a sea captain, and a descendent of one of the judges presiding over the Salem witch trials. This kinship with Puritan society was immediately recognized by Hawthorne and he would forever feel himself connected to their society and forever liable for the actions of his forefathers. In fact, he was so fascinated with the idea of the effects of sin that he explored the effects of a sin of an ancestor on his lineage in his novel The House of the Seven Gables: ?Not to be deficient in this particular, the author has provided himself with a moral ? the truth, namely, that the wrongdoing of one generation lives into the successive ones?. However, Hawthorne was able to leave Salem behind when he embarked for Bowdoin College in Maine. Here he studied literature and met is future wife, Sophia Peabody. After college, with Sophia at his side he moved to a transcendentalist commune, called Brook Farm. Here, he met Ralph Waldo Emerson and other transcendentalist thinkers who scorned the industrialism that was beginning to pervade America at the time, preferring a more simple, rural existence.. For a time he came to agree with their ideals, however, financial debts and disillusionment with the reality of this so called ?pure? and simple lifestyle forced him and his new wife, Sophia Peabody, to return to Salem, inexplicably drawing him back to the place of his ancestor?s sins. This idea, of being drawn back the place of ones sin, or in his case the sin of his ancestor, is ubiquitous in The Scarlet Letter in Hester?s continued decisions, to remain in the community, instead of trying to escape from its choking grasp. Hawthorne was not influenced by only his personal experiences, but also by the literary influences of his time. Hawthorne?s novel is the product of a struggle between Classicism and Romanticism during the 1850?s. Classicism emphasized on the classic style of writing in a traditional and unemotional tone, while Romanticism idealized the spontaneous flow of passion. This struggle is clearly played in Hester, Hawthorne?s heroine of The Scarlet Letter, who must attempt to constrain her naturally passionate character to survive within a strict Puritan society. However, Hester, does not begin as the heroine in Hawthorne?s novel; she must earn that place. The novel opens as the narrator relates that Hester Pryne and the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale have committed adultery and that Hester has borne a child named Pearl. Hester is punished publicly for their sin by the placing of a scarlet letter on her breast, while Dimmesdale does not confess to the sin and is spared public scorning for it. Instead, Dimmesdale must seek inner redemption through physical beatings and praying, with little success. The opening scene also introduces to us, Roger Chillingworth, Hester?s husband who had remained in England, leaving her to travel to America on her own. Chillingworth extracts a promise from Hester that she will not reveal his true identity and embarks on his mission to find the man with whom his wife had cheated on him. He soon suspects Dimmesdale and immediately begins crushing Dimmesdale?s heart in order to punish him for the sin he has committed with Hester, while at the same time, Hester has kept and raised Pearl despite staunch objections by many of the Puritan people. Eventually, Hester reveals Chillingworth?s secret to Dimmesdale and they plan to run off together, leaving their ignominy behind. However, when Dimmesdale discovers that Chillingworth plans to follow he confesses his sin to the Puritan society and proceeds to die. The novel opens with Hester?s public punishment for her adultery. However, from this point forth Hawthorne utilizes his novel to trace the less visible, long-range effects of such a sin, in the harsh setting of Puritan society through Arthur Dimmesdale, Roger Chillingworth, and Hester herself in order to illustrate how an obsession with vengeance or a devotion to penance can alter an individual?s spiritual worth.
Through the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, Hawthorne shows that man can alter his spiritual worth through his devotion to repentance. The Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale begins his spiritual journey at a particularly low position, due to the ignominy that he has committed: the sin of adultery and his public denial of that sin. In refusing to take responsibility for his actions, Dimmesdale is further demoted on this scale. His actions lead to Hester?s facing public ridicule through her punishment, ?that she should stand a certain time upon the platform?(53). This ?platform of pillory?, exposes Hester to the outrage of Puritan society, leaving the cowardly Dimmesdale to deny his part in the sin (52). Dimmesdale?s cowardice also leaves Hester open to the gossip of five women, one of whom decides that Hester is best ?[branded with] a hot iron?, and another who decides that she ?ought to die?(49). In fact, while Hester falls prey to the abuse of Puritan society, Dimmesdale has the audacity to scream at her: ?I charge thee to speak out the name of thy fellow-sinner ad fellow-sufferer!?(63). In doing so he is only ?[adding] hypocrisy to sin?, and further demoting his own spiritual merit. However, his actions do not only affect him, but because of the silence he knew would follow his entreaty, he compels Reverend Wilson, ?who had carefully prepared himself for the occasion?, to give a ?discourse on sin?with continual reference to the ignominious letter?(64). His speech is so reproachful that it causes the scarlet letter to ?[assume] new terrors in [the people?s] imagination, and [seem] to derive its scarlet hue from the flames of the infernal pit?(64). Thus, Reverend Wilson?s discourse, prompted by Dimmesdale?s words to Hester, increase the terror of the crowd and further isolates Hester in her sin. Indeed, she is, ?lonely?[and] without a friend on earth who dared to show himself?(75). Not even Dimmesdale, the cause of her ostracism, will converse with her, fore he ?dare[s] [not] show himself?.
From this point, his moment of greatest cowardice, Dimmesdale?s actions serve to redeem his spiritual worth. While, Dimmesdale continues his policy of ignoring Hester in public, he does work to advance her causes. When Hester arrives one day at the governor?s mansion to drop off a pair of gloves, the Governor tries to take her child from her: ?My poor woman, the child shall be well cared for! -far better than thou canst do it?(104). When she entreats Dimmesdale to ?speak thou for me?, we finally see him summon his courage to speak on Hester?s behalf: ?There is truth in what she says?God gave her the child, and gave her, too, an instinctive knowledge of its nature and requirements?(104-105). However, he is not yet ready to become a champion of courage; his courage is as ephemeral as his original betrayal of Hester, and he soon returns to a state of passivity and cowardice: ?The young minister, on ceasing to speak, had withdrawn a few steps from the group, and stood with his face partially concealed in the heavy folds of the window-curtains; while the shadow of his figure, which the sunlight cast upon the floor, was tremulous with the vehemence of his appeal?(106). On one hand, the minister begins to take responsibility for his actions, when he advocates for Hester, returning to her the only object that gives her life meaning: her child. While on the other hand, he remains incapable of public confession. For this cowardice, Dimmesdale punishes himself with brutal self-flagellation and rigorous fasting. Dimmesdale?s apparent self-hatred indicates his acknowledgement of his sin, and a need to repent for it. Consequently, the minister?s now private acknowledgement of his sins and his ensuing actions show enormous grow from the Dimmesdale who interrogated Hester on the scaffold. Yet his repudiation of public confession persists.
Through his attempts to confess, Dimmesdale does, however, begin to reveal an increasing capacity for courage. Society?s reverence for him actually pains him because he feels so undeserving. In fact, he confesses that he longs to cry out to his faithful that, ?[he], whom [the Puritans] so reverence and trust, [is] utterly a pollution and a lie!?(132). He conveys a growing self-disgust for his inability to confess his sin openly: ?More than once, Mr. Dimmesdale had gone into the pulpit, with a purpose never to come down its steps until he should have?(132), confessed his sins. That Dimmesdale declares himself ?vile? further manifests his revulsion at his own weakness. However, he comes closer to divulging his secret when he climbs upon the scaffold at night. ?The minister went up the steps?(135), in order to punish himself. This ?midnight vigil? not only demonstrates his recognition of the sin but also his attempt at a more public punishment than his use of a ?bloody scourge?. It is also important to note his acceptance of Pearl as publicly as possible on the scaffold. When Hester and Pearl walk by the scaffold Dimmesdale beckons them up calling, ?Come up hither, Hester, thou and little Pearl?(140). When he stands on the scaffold, holding the hand of Pearl who is holding her mother?s hand he feels an instant relief and gratification, in this healthy act of acceptance and repentance: ?there came what seemed a tumultuous rush of new life, other life than his own, pouring like a torrent into his heart, and hurrying through all his veins?(140). This meaningful risk has brought to him new life, as opposed to his denial of sin, which resulted in a lifeless, timid, and fragile Dimmesdale whose knees trembled at the slightest agitation. Dimmesdale is learning to make conscious decisions, which will allow him to live more comfortably with himself. After, Dimmesdale?s sermon the following day, the sexton reveals himself, ?holding up a black glove, which the minister recognized as his own?(145). Through this single glove that Dimmesdale left behind, Hawthorne suggests symbolically that Dimmesdale?s attempt at confession in the dark is only a partial repentance.
Unfortunately, Dimmesdale?s accent toward perfection is temporarily hindered through his meeting with Hester in the forest. In this scene, Hester appears as Dimmesdale?s temptress. This perilous scenario is indicated by the ?darkened? noontide?, whose darkness is symbolic of the danger to come. Hester too is included in this veil of darkness when Hawthorne remarks the Dimmesdale was unable to discern whether she was ?a woman or a shadow?(173). When she arrives, she asks Dimmesdale, ?hast thou found peace?? to which he responds: ?None!?(175). This situation is as it should be; having not completed his public confession to the Puritans, Dimmesdale should experience no peace. Yet, like Satan tempting Jesus in the desert, Hester similarly tempts Dimmesdale three times. First, she reminds him that, ?the people reference [him]?, to which he responds, ?more misery?(175), showing that he will not fall to her band wagon argument. What is important is not how the people view Dimmesdale, but what he knows about himself: that he has lied the Puritans and that their reverence of him is undeserved. She attempts to undermine his resolve to confess for a second time, wrongfully imparting that Dimmesdale, ?[has] deeply and sorely repented?, and that his, ?sin is left behind [him], in the days long past?(175). Dimmesdale remains steadfast in his resolve to confess, repelling Hester, crying, ?no, Hester, no! ?There is no substance in it!?(176). Dimmesdale is now illustrating the full ferocity of his new found spiritual strength, however, his temptress? promises prove to much for him; despondently, like Eve?s fall to Satan in the garden of Eden, Dimmesdale falls to Hester?s temptation. She convinces him that ?Heaven would show mercy?, and subjects himself to her command, demanding, ?Advise me what to do?(180). Thus he decides to, ?quit his post? and to ?leave it all behind?, him (181). In this way Hester succeeds in convincing Dimmesdale to flee holy punishment for his sin, and instead to start a new life, leaving behind an unconfessed sin. Instead, of allowing God or the Puritan society to judge him, Dimmesdale, instead decides to allow Hester, his temptress to take on the role of God for him. He elects to abandon, ?the judgment of God?(180), and instead to allow Hester to determine that, ?Heaven would show mercy?. Nevertheless, Dimmesdale acts to redeem himself in the subsequent scene, again mounting his chosen path toward Heaven. In fact, having made his ?half confession? on the platform, the only way in which Dimmesdale can cleanse himself further is to publicly admit his sin to the Puritans.

And Dimmesdale takes just such a drastic step on Election Day. Dimmesdale finally rallies his courage and is able to confess his sin in plain and simple speech to all of his faithful, ?[standing] upon the spot upon where, seven years since, [he] should have stood?(231). It is only through this public disclosure that he may ?escape [Chillingworth]?(230), who has been playing on Dimmesdale?s fear of discovery to harm him. Dimmesdale is finally embracing what he has done and in so doing, liberating himself from the chains, which his fears of discovery had forged; it is only through this public revelation that he can forgive himself for his sins and en his self-torment. With this monumental act of cleansing, Dimmesdale spiritually rises on Aristotle?s platonic ladder, approaching the angels, as indicated through his final pious words: ?Praised be His name! His will be done! Farewell!? Indeed Dimmesdale?s spiritual merit has grown remarkably, indicating a conscious and tenacious progress toward spiritual well being through the course of the novel.
Hester?s situation, similar to Dimmesdale?s, is precarious after her weakness leads her to follow the path of lust and adultery. As an adulterer, Hester falls from grace with the Puritans, and enters the novel at a moral low, which she must work to overcome. Hester indeed follows the path of ?unhallowed lust?(105) in her interactions with Dimmesdale and must pay the price. She commits an egregious sin by Puritan standards and even by today?s principles; she should submit herself unconditionally to any punishment they might see fit to bestow upon her. The magistrates condemn her to forever bear a ?token? (59), to perpetually remind her of her sin, in the form of the letter ?A?: this letter is supposed to stand as an acronym for her sin: Adultery. Instead of simply submitting to the punishment of the ministers who are described as ?merciful overmuch?(49), she resolves to defy them in the only way she can: to distort their punishment. Instead of designing a puritanical emblem in gray, she decides on a flamboyant scarlet ?A?, which is so fantastic that Hawthorne calls it ?the SCARLET LETTER?(51), in order to connote its ornateness. The scarlet letter is, ?fantastically embroidered and illuminated upon her bosom?(51). Thus its very appearance, suggests Hester?s spite for the magistrates. This is the nadir of Hester?s spiritual journey, which she will take during the course of the novel. Not only does she commit the sin of adultery, but she also makes ?a pride out of what [the magistrates], meant for a punishment?(51). She is now not only guilty of pride, but also of hubris. However, Hawthorne does call her, ?an object to remind [a papist] of the image of Divine Maternity?, foreshadowing her salvation. Indeed, from this point forth Hester?s toils to redeem herself privately and within the Puritan society, eventually overcoming sin.
Hester first gives us this inkling of great things to come in her actions directly following her condemnation. When the magistrates demand that she tell them who the baby?s father is, she declines: ?I charge thee to speak out the name of thy fellow-sinner and fellow-sufferer!?(63). The Puritans interpret this refusal as an expression of Hester?s natural ?hardness and obstinacy,? yet she has chosen the decent option for the first time. Instead of publicly shaming Dimmesdale without his consent, she respects his decision to not disclose his secret; in such a way, Dimmesdale may make a private peace with himself before exposing himself to public scorn. Thus, her loyal silence shows that Hester has started on the path toward a wiser self. Indeed, although she at first mocked the ministers with the ?SCARLET TOKEN,? Hester has come to accept her punishment despite the pain which it inflicts upon her: ?Tomorrow would bring its own trial with it, ?and so would the next; each its own trial?(73). It is only with remarkable strength that she endures such ridicule and toil. And although is she is ?lonely?[and] without a friend on earth who dare[d] to show himself?(75), Hester chooses to remain in the Puritan settlement, despite the fact that she is, ?kept by no restrictive clause of her condemnation?(73). Rather, ?her sin, her ignominy [are] the roots she?stuck into the soil?(74), in which she chooses to nurture her repentance. Thus, instead of taking the less arduous path of ?[returning] to her birthplace, or to any other European land and there [hiding] her character,? she chooses to embrace her sin, remaining in the Puritan settlement to accept the full force of her punishment. However, Hawthorne also ominously relates that Hester will, ?[give] up her individuality?, in the process of conforming to their principles. While the scarlet letter does have this negative effect, Hester is also able to baffle the magistrates by using it to her advantage. When the magistrate tries to take Pearl away, advising Hester, ?My poor woman, the child shall be well cared for!-far better than thou canst do it?(104), Hester synthesizes an unforeseen argument. When he tells Hester that the scarlet letter is her ?badge of shame?(102), she retorts ?nevertheless, this badge hath taught me ? it daily teaches me?(102). Thus Hester has taken that which was supposed to be a sign of infamy, the scarlet letter, and much to the Puritans surprise, has turned it into a positive teaching tool.
Hester learns to live among the Puritans in a healthy and productive manner. However, as foreshadowed earlier she must give up her individuality to do so. We soon learn that Hester has been robbed of her most beautiful and defining feature: her hair; we learn that Hester?s ?rich and luxuriant hair had either been cut off, or was so completely hidden by a cap, that not a shining lock of it ever once gushed into the sunshine?(150). By so doing, Hester assimilates herself perfectly into Puritan society; she is now a cold, harsh figure like the women we saw at the beginning of the novel: ?All the light and graceful foliage of her character had been withered up by this red-hot brand?(150). She no longer is distinguishable from the other women by any other marking than her scarlet letter. In this way she has conformed to the society in order to survive within it. However, she challenges their society through other means. She accomplishes this by challenging the meaning of the symbol ?A? she has borne so long. In accordance with Hawthorne?s foreshadowing of Hester as the Virgin Mary, Hester has become know as ?Sister of Mercy?(148) for the divinity in her actions: ?she gave her little substance to every demand of poverty?even though the bitter-hearted pauper threw back a gibe in requital for the food?(147). By submitting ?uncomplainingly [to society?s] worst usage,?(147) she challenges the original Puritan idea that she was evil and that her scarlet letter was a badge of ignominy. In so doing, she shows that she has come to make a private peace with herself and is ready to beginning helping the Puritans make fundamental changes. In fact, she is so kind that her scarlet letter, ?[has] the effect of a cross on a nun?s bosom?(149). The entire meaning behind her scarlet ?A? comes to change in people?s minds from ?Adulteress? to ?Able?. Thus, she has shifted her position in the Puritan society, from being shamed as the worst sinner in the community to being revered as a testament to Puritan values. By showing them the ambiguity between the worst and the best, she tests Puritan beliefs and challenging them to change their practices to ones that are more tolerant.
Having improved herself, as well as the Puritans, Hester is now prepared to aid Dimmesdale in two manners: confronting the corrupt physician and assisting the ailing minister. By the time Hester has undergone the transformations discussed in the previous paragraph, the physician, Roger Chillingworth, has undergone a transformation of his own. He has been transformed from the physician who first appeared to the Puritans to a man with ?a terrible fascination, a kind of fierce, though still calm, necessity seized the old man within its gripe, and never set him free again, until he had done all its bidding?(118). Having observed this change, Hester resolves to confront the physician, and to request that he end his torturing of Dimmesdale: ?Hast thou not tortured him enough??(158). When Hester discovers that the old man is beyond help and that his thirst for revenge is unquenchable, she resolves to break her, ?promise of secrecy?, that Chillingworth previously extorted. Thus, Hester shows us in this act, that she is not only prepared to protect herself, but is now prepared to protect others as well. When Hester does eventually converse with Dimmesdale in the forest, she does far more than tell him that Chillingworth is her former husband; after telling Dimmesdale that there is ?an enemy?under [his] own roof?(176), she attempts to sooth him, and to provide his soul peace. When Dimmesdale learns of Chillingworth?s sadistic plans, he begins to despair, asking Hester if it would be best if he, ?sank down [to the ground] and [died] at once?(180). However, Hester is able to fill his heart with boyish excitement and hope when she suggests that anywhere else he might still be accepted in anonymity: ?So brief a journey would bring from a world where thou has been most wretched, to one where thou mayest still be happy?(181). She tells him to ?make [himself] a high [name], such as [he] canst wear without fear or shame?(182). When he expresses his doubt about the viability of a man running away alone whose ?knees are tottering?, she tells him that he ?shalt not go alone!?(182). In these few lines, Hester restores hope and life to a man who was previously looking forward only to his slow deterioration and eventual death as his only escape from a miserable life. Thus, Hester is able, not only to find her own inner peace but also to help Dimmesdale find his own. In fact, Hester is so adept at helping others that when she returns from Pearl?s place of marriage, ?people [bring] all their sorrows and perplexities, and [beseech] her counsel?. Thus Hester has ceased to be viewed as a negative entity but rather as an entity worthy of praise. Hester triumphs over her sin and the Puritan society: the society that had condemned her, now actively seeks her guidance. Thus, Hester, to a less ambiguous extent that Dimmesdale, prevails over her original sin as well as the society that had originally bestowed the punishment for it.
Chillingworth enters the novel with moral superiority, relative to Hester and Dimmesdale. Unlike them, however, he does not work to further his spiritual advantage. Instead, he chooses to follow an inhumane path leading to his ultimate demise. Not only does Chillingworth enter the novel as a clear moral superior to Hester and Dimmesdale, because of their sin, but also because of his initial reaction to it. When he visits Hester after her public shaming, he not only appears to not share the general wrath over Hester?s ignominy, he appears to actually sympathize with her; he exclaims, ?It was my folly?(67) twice, over a sin which he did not directly instigate. He expresses such self-reproach, in his orations, with phrases such as, ?Mine was the first wrong?(69), that Hester must place the blame on herself: ?I have greatly wronged thee?(69). Instead of accepting this, however, Chilling worth persists: ?I betrayed thy budding youth into a false and unnatural relation with my decay?(70). In fact, Chillingworth goes so far as to conclude that, ?Between [Hester] and [Chillingworth], the scale hangs fairly balanced?(70). Puritan society also views Chillingworth as a positive influence and worthy human being: ?The elders, the deacons, the motherly dames, and the young and fair maidens, of Mr. Dimmesdale?s flock, were alike importunate that he should mark trial of the physician?s frankly offered skill?. They go so far as to assert that in Chillingworth?s arrival, ?Heaven had wrought an absolute miracle?. Yet, we soon learn that Chillingworth feels no such sentiments for her paramour; in fact, Dimmesdale is intent on discovering his identity: ?Thou wilt not reveal his name? Not the less he is mine?(70). Hawthorne also drops small hints throughout the passage. Perhaps the subtlest of his portending signs comes earlier when Chillingworth was talking to Hester with words of compassion. Although, he seems excessively kind during this part of conversation, Hawthorne warns us of Chillingworth?s true intentions when he terms him ?the leech?(67). Hester soon draws the conclusion that, ?[Chillingworth]?s acts are like mercy, but [his] words interpret thee as a terror!?(71). She even goes so far as to liken him to ?the Black Man that haunts the forest?(72), her vision of what evil personified resembles. Thus, Chillingworth approaches Hester in an excessively compassionate manner, however, this meeting also foreshadows Chillingworth?s obsession with discovering the identity of Hester?s paramour: ?Sooner or later, he must needs, be mine!?

As the above quote implies, from this point forth, Chillingworth acts immorally and inhumanely, reducing his spiritual worth. Chillingworth?s obsession first manifests itself in his unrelenting search for Pearl?s father and Hester?s fellow sinner. He attempts to obtain clerical help in his scheme to ascertain the identity of this unknown sinner: ?It is easy to see the mother?s part in [Pearl]. Would it be beyond a philosopher?s research, think ye, gentlemen to analyze the child?s nature and from it make a mould, to give a shrewd guess at the father?(107). However, the holy minister responds, ?nay; it would be sinful?(107), a conclusion at which Chillingworth should have arrived months ago. Chillingworth is constantly suspecting everyone of the crime of adultery with his wife and this obsession begins to be discernible. When Dimmesdale makes his speech for Hester to keep her child, Chillingworth remarks that Dimmesdale speaks with, a, ?strange earnestness?(106). Despite the fact that Dimmesdale is, in fact, Hester?s adulterer, Chillingworth has no reason to suspect this other than his speak for her to keep her child. Thus, it demonstrates the degree to which Chillingworth obsesses over determining the identity of Hester?s paramour. This unhealthy search, not only deteriorates Chillingworth?s moral status within the novel, his inner iniquity begins to manifest itself in his outward appearance. Hester remarks, ?how his dark complexion seemed to have grown duskier?(103): a physical manifestation of the blackness of his soul. Hester also notes that, ?his figure [appeared] more misshapen?(103), than she remembered it from the days when they lived together as husband and wife in England. Thus, his mania with finding his target is causing various physical deformities. Before Dimmesdale is placed with Chillingworth, according to popular opinion, Chillingworth ?look[s] into the character and qualities of [Dimmesdale]?(113). What he finds in Dimmesdale?s soul prompts him to ?hint?(115) to Dimmesdale?s friends to, ?[effect] an arrangement by which the two were lodged in the same house; so that every ebb and flow of the minister?s life-tide might pass under the [his] eye?(115). This clearly shows that Chillingworth now knows or strongly suspects Dimmesdale of being the man whom he has sought for the past two years.

Now, almost certain that Dimmesdale is Hester?s paramour, Chillingworth?s primary objective turn from finding the man who corrupted his wife, to destroying him. Hawthorne remarks that Chillingworth, ?[began] an investigation?as if the question involved no more than the air-drawn lines and figure of a geometrical problem?. However, Hawthorne views what he sees as a distinct change in Chillingworth?s character; he changes from ?a pure and upright man? to a man obsessed with nothing less than full vengeance: ?A terrible fascination, a kind of fierce, though still calm, necessity seized the old man within its gripe, and never set him free again until he had done its bidding?(118). Chillingworth?s dreams now, ?[lead] him to imagine a more intimate revenge than any mortal had ever wreaked upon an enemy?. Thus, Chillingworth now crosses the line between legitimate desire and obsessive cruelty. Chillingworth has a right to discover the identity of Hester?s fellow sinner, and even to expose that man. However, his new sadistic approach to vengeance is unprecedented and ironically makes a sinner of him; his quest to expose the sin of another instead leads to him committing his own sin. Like Hawthorne, the Puritans also notice a distinct change in Chillingworth?s demeanor: ?At first his expression had been calm, meditative, scholar-like. Now, there was something ugly and evil in his face, which they had not previously noticed, and which grew still the more obvious to sight the oftener they looked upon him?(117). Judging from his actions and his appearance they also hypothesize that he must be ?Satan himself? or else ?Satan?s emissary?(117). Hawthorne verifies this as he describes, ?the conclusions attained [by the Puritans] are often so profound and so unerring, as to possess the character of truths supernaturally revealed?(116-117). Therefore, Chillingworth?s transformation is undisputable and its manifestation disastrous for both his own moral being, as well as for Hester and Dimmesdale.

Chillingworth?s revenge manifests itself in egregious evils against Dimmesdale, which eventually prove the ruin of both men. As their interaction continues, Chillingworth ?[digs] into the poor clergyman[Dimmesdale]?s heart, like a miner searching for gold?(118-119). Chillingworth simply refuses to show the mercy toward Dimmesdale that he did toward Hester. In fact, it is questionable which Chillingworth is even human anymore. He is described as a ?leech? throughout the novel, a person who survives only through the life of another. It is in this role that Chillingworth thrives. He becomes able to ?comprehend every movement?(128) in Dimmesdale?s soul. Eventually he becomes, ?not a spectator only, but a chief actor, in the poor minister?s world?: ?[Chillingworth] could play on upon [Dimmesdale] as he chose?(129). Chillingworth uses his sagacity to penetrate deep into Dimmesdale?s inner thoughts. There, he is able to control Dimmesdale and cause this self-hating and emaciated man more pain: ?Would he arouse him with a throb of pain??(129). Thus Chillingworth falls into his role as, ?the leech?: Dimmesdale?s ubiquitous tormentor. Throughout this process, Chillingworth moves from the moral and spiritual status of sinner to a status closer to the Puritan description of him as ?Satan?s emissary?. Finally, unlike Hester and Dimmesdale who redeem themselves, Chillingworth stays his evil course to its destructive end. Instead of allowing Hester and Dimmesdale to leave all of their past behind them, Chillingworth discovers their plans to leave by ship and quickly books a ticket himself; the ship?s captains states, ?Chillingworth?is minded to try my cabin-far with you?(214). Chillingworth is so obsessed with his revenge that he will not allow Dimmesdale to escape the Puritan society the only way he can alive: to run away. Instead, Chillingworth drives Dimmesdale to a confession that causes him such distress that he dies. However, we see the extent of Chillingworth?s moral mutilation, when attempts to stop Dimmesdale from confessing his sin to the Puritans, his original moral goal: ?Madman, hold!?(230) With this statement, Chillingworth proves that he has abandoned his justified goal of forcing Hester?s paramour to confess, instead choosing deciding to forever torture his soul; Chillingworth is committing a greater sin in punishing Dimmesdale, than Dimmesdale ever committed. Chillingworth has fallen from grace in the eyes of morality, the Puritan society, and God. While Dimmesdale?s death was his highest point in his view, it clearly defined his moral nadir. Lastly, Hawthorne further supports the idea of Chillingworth acting as ?the leech?. Not only did Dimmesdale become emaciated when he began his interactions with the blood-sucking Chillingworth, but Hawthorne also clearly implies this analogy through his ending. After Dimmesdale?s death Chillingworth has nothing left to feed on and dies: ?All his strength and energy- all his vital and intellectual forces- seemed at once to desert him; insomuch that he positively withered up, shriveled away, and almost vanished from mortal sight?(236). Unlike Hester and Dimmesdale, who toil to raise their spiritual worth, Chillingworth, gives up an already lofty moral status to pursue an unholy revenge.
Hence, the hypothesis that Hawthorne traces the effects of Dimmesdale?s and Hester?s sin in order to prove that the actions of an individual, despite previous sins, are more important than the sin itself is a viable one. Hester and Dimmesdale transcend the negative implications of their sins, and instead working to recover and do good within the Puritan community. Hester overcomes her, ?badge of shame?, changing it?s meaning from Adulteress to Able. However, instead of simply becoming an ideal model of a reformed sinner for the clergy to point to, she becomes a model of how one can survive with the harsh Puritan society. In fact, others come to seek this sinner?s advice. Dimmesdale too overcomes his fear of the Puritan reaction to his sin, revealing his true self at the end of the novel. As a foil, Hawthorne uses Chillingworth to show how a person may not only augment their standing in God?s eyes from the nadir in their spiritual journey, but also fall from their zenith. Chillingworth reminds us that an obsession with vengeance can reduce a man from an admired scholar to a dilapidated husk, needing to leech his life from another. Through Chillingworth?s over rationalization and complete lack of compassion for Hester?s paramour we see Hawthorne?s warning to mid 19th century society. After the War of 1812, America began industrializing and by the 1840?s, America was developing a ?true manufacturing economy? . After seeing the Industrial Revolution of the mid-1700?s in England, and its results, Hawthorne was warning future generations of Americans not to commit the same atrocities on humanity that had occurred in England in the name of rationalization. Hawthorne utilized his novel to warn America against allowing the impersonal factory system to change them into uncompassionate, ruthless men as Hester?s sin did to Chillingworth. Thus, in conclusion, Hawthorne follows the mercilessness of Chillingworth, contrasting it with Hester and Dimmesdale?s virtue, in order to show future generations of American business the two paths set before them, compassion and greed, and their perspective results: virtue and callousness.