Sunday, 6 December 2009

In "The Scarlet Letter," what happens to Chillingworth after Dimmesdale dies and why?

dies
shortly afterpasses away. Though one might assume Chillingworth would be happy that the man who
helped cuckold him is dead, this is not the case. Chillingworth wanted vengeance on his own
terms, and the fact that Dimmesdale died in a state of grace thwarts his desire. Also, now that
Dimmesdale is dead, Chillingworth has no reason to go on living. He was so consumed with getting
revenge that he had no plans on what to do with himself once he achieved his goal. Now he has
neither achieved that goal nor has anything else to live for, since his marriage withis over and
his own personality, never particularly virtuous or loving, has become further warped by hatred.
Unlike Hester, who lives to raiseand help the community however she can, Chillingworth loves no
one else. Therefore, he wastes away and dies alone.

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