1. Chapters 9 & 10
Characters: Hester Prynne, Pearl, Roger Chillingworth, Arthur Dimmesdale
Setting: Chillingworth and Dimmesdale’s residence, The Graveyard
We learn Roger Chillingworth’s true identity; aside from being the “leech” of Boston, He is also Hester’s Husband.
Chillingworth starts living with Dimmesdale, and two opinions are formed of him. Some are extremely grateful of his presence, but others believe that he is the devil himself.
Pearl outlines the “A” with prickly burs, then throws one at Dimmesdale through his window, subtly associating him with the letter.
Chillingworth finds something on Dimmesda le’s chest, which we are not sure of, that makes him joyful and assures him that Dimmesdale is Hester’s lover.
Tone Vocabulary: Dark, ugly, evil, gloom, terror, miserable, naughty, sinfulness, sick, low, horror.
Literary Devices: Allusion- Sir Kenelm Digby, a famous English diplomat and philosopher, Symbols- they referred to Chillingworth as a “leech” not only because it meant doctor, but it also meant he was sucking the life out of Dimmesdale, Pearl was like the scarlet letter, because she came from Hester’s sin, “the black man” Pearl references to Chillingworth, but it also means the devil, Simile- Chillingworth was compared to a “miner searching for gold” and a “sexton delving into a grave”, Alliteration- “extravagant ecstasy”, Repetition- “deep, deep slumber”, Parallelism- “But, with what a wild look of wonder, joy and horror.”
Theme: The Nature of Evil- Not only in these chapters, but in the whole book Chillingworth is a symbol of evil. In these chapters especially when he is sucking the life out of Dimmesdale and making him suffer the true nature of evil is shown. Even when Pearl is dancing on the tombstones, there is a sense of evil, and between Hester and Dimmesdale because of their sin. This shows that evil can be found in everyone.
Hester is treated especially bad in this time, because she is known as an adulteress. Chillingworth even acknowledges how “miserable” she is with “that scarlet letter on her breast”.