Roger Chillingworth

* 1926
* 1934
* 1979
* 1995

*The Scarlet Letter* (1995)

Robert Duvall (1995)

The Scholar

Arthur Dimmesdale (opposer, †, deceased)

### Personalities

Old, cruel, lustful, serious, calm, ugly, vengeful, hateful, difficult, jealous, cold, sadistic, twisted, intelligent, respected, secretive, protective (to Hester), well-educated, evil, sinful, insane, furious, obsessive, deceitful, sympathetic (to Hester), fearsome, intellectual, mysterious, ignorant, determined, manipulative, cunning, redeemable

### Appearance

Small, misshapen (with deformed shoulders)

### Likes

Practicing medicine, watching over Dimmesdale, plotting his revenge

### Dislikes

His wife's relationship with Dimmesdale, not being able to complete his revenge

### Goal

To make it to Boston and change his identity (succeeded)
To force Hester not to reveal the secret of their relationship or his identity (succeeded)
To take revenge on Dimmesdale for having an affair with Prynne (failed)
To go after Prynne and Dimmesdale as they try to leave Boston (failed)

### Fate

Dies frustrated after he fails his revenge plan, and leaves a large fortune to Pearl

### Famous quotes

"We men of study, whose heads are in our books, have need to be straightly looked after! We dream in our waking moments, and walk in our sleep."

> "*His form grew emaciated; his voice, though still rich and sweet, had a certain melancholy prophecy of decay in it.*"
> ― Chapter 9
>
>

Roger (Prynne) Chillingworth is the main antagonist in Nathaniel Hawthorne's *The Scarlet Letter*, and is the husband of Hester Prynne.

After arriving in America with a changed identity, Chillingworth becomes a local doctor, but as he finds out about his wife's adultery, he plans to take revenge on her love affair, and turns into a more twisted, evil man.

## Description

Roger Chillingworth is viewed as one of the principle antagonists in American literature. As his name suggests, Chillingworth is the definitive example of evil. From the start, when he took the job as a physician, the Puritans looked up to him as a blessing. But when he plans his revenge, he becomes more sadistic than he was before. Some examples of these include his medical practices and experiments deeply resembling witchcraft, as if he is actually practicing it to harm others.

Chillingworth is not a Puritan like Hester and Dimmesdale. He was held hostage by Native Americans after his arrival in Boston, and despite him fitting in such as wearing Puritan clothing, he is unable to convert and be part of their society and religion. Even if he was originally a scholar, Chillingworth managed to study about medicine and herbs, and also uses them as black magic to torment Dimmesdale and to keep him alive in order to achieve his vengeance on him.

Because of Chillingworth's ruthless acts of revenge, he may often be compared to the Black Man or the Devil. He couldn't connect with anyone in his youth and only wants to cause self-inflicted torture on Dimmesdale. He also made sure his victim never escaped from him, especially when he attempted to board the ship leaving Boston where Hester and Dimmesdale were in. His appearance and personality make him ominous to everyone; even to his young wife Hester. In death, Chillingworth's satanic attitude, however, has subsided.

## Personality/Appearance

Roger Chillingworth is an evil, twisted and cruel man. His constant acts of vengeance and anger towards Dimmesdale changes his traits rapidly, and that he may had taken pleasure into torturing the minister, both physically and mentally. His surname is an ominous reference to fear and evil, as it may be possible he changed his name to secretly menace fear towards others. His devilish behaviour of making his victim suffer terribly could have left a black mark on his image, and if his cruelty was discovered by the townsfolk, he could have faced consequences, such as being banished or even executed. But either way, his evil side has been secretive from the Puritans and would do anything he can to be monstrous towards his patient. He could have even be the Black Man himself rather than The Leech. He resents the minister for his love affair to Hester and the thought of her loving someone else makes him furious with jealously. He gets obsessed with his revenge and is determined to complete it successfully.

From his younger years, Chillingworth was a kinder and respected man. While his marriage to Hester Prynne was loveless, he still cared about her and her reputation, especially when he finds her an illegitimate mother in Boston. It was the only time he had been more sympathetic and protective towards his wife and to Pearl, the daughter that wasn't his. These included when he gave Hester some medical treatment following her public shaming and even leaving Pearl a fortune after his death. The townsfolk had even mistaken him to be a thoughtful and humble man when he offered to look after Dimmesdale.

He has very high intelligence. He gained most of his training back from his scholar days and he is very skilled at making medical supplies and treatments. He also has his intelligence from his morality in spiritualism and religion, such as when he discussed with Dimmesdale about sins and redemption when they spot Hester and Pearl in the graveyard outside of their house.

Chillingworth is known to be a small man with misshapen, deformed shoulders that made him different from the other Puritans.

## Relationships

### Hester Prynne

Chillingworth’s wife. He is much older than her when they married and he barely interacts with her. After sending her off to Boston, he ignores her for a couple of years without staying in contact. When he finds out about Hester's love affair and illegitimate pregnancy, Roger has his wife make an oath he won't reveal his identity to anyone and will find out about the father himself. In addition, he is a bit protective and caring to her reputation and to her child.

### Arthur Dimmesdale

Chillingworth’s patient and his victim. He took the minister into his home to look after him, but since he is convinced he is Hester's lover, Roger took this opportunity to be cruel and manipulative by tormenting him and making him miserable. He is wanting to carry his vengeance out on Dimmesdale for as long as possible, and won't let his victim leave him, even placing his name on the party list of passengers departing Boston which included Dimmesdale and Hester.

## Portrayals

In the 1926 and 1934 film adaptations, Chillingworth is portrayed by Henry B. Walthall.