The Scarlet Letter 7: P144-158

1. What does Hester now say about her scarlet letter to Chillingworth?

• "It lies not in the pleasure of the magistrates to take off this badge, were I worthy to be quit of it if would fall away of its own nature, or be transformed into something that should speak a different purport." (153)

• She forgave herself already; she is waiting for God to grant His forgiveness to her.

2. Describe Chillingworth physically.

• "It was not so much that he had grown older; for though the traces of advancing life were visible, he wore his age well, and seemed to retain a wiry vigor and alertness." (153)
• "But the former aspect of an intellectual and studious man, clam and quiet, which was what she best remembered in him, had altogether vanished, and been succeeded by an eager, searching, almost fierce, yet carefully guarded look." (153)
• He turned from an intelligent and clam scholar to a vengeful and pathetic ghost.
  

3. What do we find out Dimmesdale’s true "death" is, and how does he suffer it?

• "die daily a living death" (154)
• He is experiencing an internal struggle everyday because of Chillingworth.
  

4. Describe exactly how Chillingworth has treated Dimmesdale and why he has treated him that way.

• "You tread behind his every footstep. You are beside him, sleeping and waking. You search his thoughts. You burrow and rankle in his heart! Your clutch is on his life, and you cause him to die daily a living death; and still he knows you not." (154)
• Revenge has drove Chillingworth insane. He focused on the action of revenge too much that he gradually forgot what his original motivation was. It sort of became a lifestyle of Chillingworth - get pleasure from Dimmesdale's suffering.
  

5. Why has Dimmesdale increased his debt to Chillingworth?

• "No life had been more peaceful and innocent than mine; few lives so rich with benefits conferred.Dost thou remember me? Was I not, though you might deem me cold, nevertheless a man thoughful for others, craving little or himself, - kind, true, just, and of constant, if not warm affections? Was I not all this?"(156)
• This is a cycle of revenge - the more Chillingworth hates Dimmesdale, the eviler he becomes; the eviler he becomes, the more he hates him. This cycle goes on and on...
  

6. Is Chillingworth’s argument valid about that point?

• No. Vengeance has turned him into a mad man. He is controlled by his hysterical emotions, not his sense.
  

7. What is the final resolution between Hester and Chillingworth? Is there one?

• Hester is going to unveil Chillingworth's true identity; however
• Chillingworth warned Hester not to do this, but he did not tried to stop her.
• This shows Chillingworth, the sly old fox, has a back-up plan.