The Scarlett Letter- Blog 4

Secrets are a fairly big thing in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlett Letter, and so are relationships. Chapter 9 deals mainly with Roger Chillingworth the doctor that Hester knew by his prior identity. An identity she has promised to keep a SECRET. That way, he did not have to suffer for Hester's sin by her side. Now, the interesting relationship that develops in this chapter of the novel is that between Chillingworth and Reverend Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale is suffering from an illness that has weakened him greatly, and this is how Chillingworth can work his way in. He wants to study and attempt to treat the sickness, and at first the townspeople are all for it. However, as time passes, the people are suspicious of his background and apparently no "evil face". This is described as, "haunted either by Satan himself, or Satan's emissary, in the guise of old Roger Chillingworth". (Hawthorne 97). Hopefully it will become clear in the coming chapters what the meaning is behind the relationship between the two. Spirituality and science will certainly come head to head- two people with such differing values and personalities are bound to have issues.