In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic novel, The Scarlet Letter, the character of Roger Chillingworth plays a significant role. He is the vengeful husband of Hester Prynne, who is punished for her adultery by being forced to wear a scarlet letter “A” on her chest. Chillingworth is consumed by his desire for revenge against the man who fathered Hester’s child, Arthur Dimmesdale. But, does Chillingworth die in the end?
The answer is yes, Chillingworth does die in the conclusion of the novel. However, his death is not a peaceful one. Hawthorne describes how “positively withered up, shrivelled away” Chillingworth becomes due to his obsession with revenge. It is clear that his hatred and desire for vengeance have consumed him completely, leaving him a shell of his formr self.
Chillingworth’s death is not unexpected, as his sole purpose in life was to seek revenge against Dimmesdale. Once he realizes that his revenge has been achieved and that his victim is dead, he has no reason to live. Chillingworth’s character represents the dangers of obsession and the destructive power of revenge.
Interestingly, despite his cruel and vindictive nature, Chillingworth leaves his fortune to Pearl, Hester’s daughter. Pearl, who is a symbol of love and passion, receives the inheritance from a man who was driven by hate and revenge. This twist in the story adds another layer of complexity to the character of Chillingworth.
While Chillingworth’s death is not a peaceful one, it is a fitting end to a character consumed by hatred and revenge. Hawthorne’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of obsession and the destructive power of revenge. Chillingworth’s legacy, in the form of his inheritance to Pearl, serves as a reminder that even the most hateful and vindictive people can leave behind something of value.
The Cause of Chillingworth’s Death
Chillingworth, a character in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novl “The Scarlet Letter,” died because his obsession with revenge consumed him entirely, leaving him empty and inhuman. His entire existence revolved around tormenting and punishing the man who had an affair with his wife, Hester Prynne. Chillingworth’s desire for revenge was so intense that he neglected all other aspects of his life, including his own health and well-being. As he continued to focus solely on his quest for vengeance, his physical and mental health began to deteriorate. Eventually, Chillingworth shriveled up and vanished because his reason for living, which was to punish his victim, was no longer present. In essence, his obsession with revenge led to his demise, as it consumed him completely and left him with nothing else to live for.
Deaths in The Scarlet Letter
In The Scarlet Letter, three main characters meet their end: Arthur Dimmesdale, Roger Chillingworth, and Hester Prynne. Dimmesdale, the town’s minister, dies after confessing his sin of adultery with Hester on the scaffold in front of the whole town. Chillingworth, Hester’s former husband, dies shortly after Dimmesdale due to his own guilt and despair. Hester, the protagonist of the story, lives to an old age and dies peacefully, but her death is not shown in the novel. These three deaths mark the culmination of the novel’s themes of sin, guilt, and redemption, and their impact on the characters involved.
The Fate of Chillingworth in The Scarlet Letter
In the novel “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Chillingworth is a character who becomes consumed by obsession, vengeance, and hatred. His sole purpose in life is to seek revenge on the man who committed adultery with his wife, Hester Prynne. As the story progresses, we see Chillingworth’s physical and mental health deteriorate, and he becomes a shell of his former self. In the end, he “positively withered up, shrivelled away” as a result of his obsession and hatred. Despite his twisted actions, Chillingworth leaves his fortune to Pearl, Hester’s daughter who was conceived through love and passion, making her the living symbol and personification of the scarlet letter. In this way, Chillingworth’s legacy is ultimately tied to the very thng he sought to destroy.
The Fate of Chillingworth
Chillingworth’s fate in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel “The Scarlet Letter” is that he dies a short time after Dimmesdale’s confession of guilt and leaves his fortune to Pearl, Hester and Dimmesdale’s daughter. It is suggested that Chillingworth’s death is a result of his obsession with revenge against Dimmesdale, which ultimately consumes him. After Chillingworth’s death, Hester and Pearl leave the New England community and travel abroad, but Hester eventually returns alone to live out her days quietly in the community.
Conclusion
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter, the fate of the character Roger Chillingworth is left to the readers’ interpretation. However, based on the evidence presented in the text, it can be inferred that Chillingworth does indeed die. In the Conclusion, it is revealed that Chillingworth “positively withered up, shrivelled away.” This suggests that his obsession with revenge, and his consuming hatred towards Arthur Dimmesdale, has taken a physical toll on his body, causing him to deteriorate and eventually die. Additionally, Chillingworth’s death is hinted at with his decision to leave his fortune to Pearl, a child born out of love and passion, rather than to his own family. This decision can be seen as a final act of redemption, a way for Chillingworth to make amends for his past actions. while the novl does not explicitly state Chillingworth’s death, the evidence presented strongly suggests that he does indeed meet his end.
