The Scarlet Letter

Shortly after moving to Salem, Chillingworth befriended Reverend Dimmesdale, whose health had recently begun to fail. Dimmesdale’s parishioners see this frailty as a sign of holiness and conclude that God must have sent Chillingworth to Salem to cure Dimmesdale. Although initially reluctant to seek medical advice, Dimmesdale enjoys the intellectual conversation Chillingworth provides; the two spend more time together and eventually take lodgings in the same house.

Chillingworth, meanwhile, has studied Dimmesdale intently and concluded that his sickness stems from a mental or spiritual ailment. Consequently, Chillingworth resolves to strive “deep into his patient’s bosom, delving among his principles, prying into his recollections, and probing every thing with a cautious touch, like a treasure-seeker in a dark cavern” (109).

As time goes on, Chillingworth’s behavior strikes some townsfolk as strange or even suspicious; rumors spread that he practiced witchcraft while living with the Native Americans, and some even believe that Chillingworth is a demon or devil sent to tempt and torment Dimmesdale.

Chillingworth’s motives have changed since befriending Dimmesdale; where he initially hoped only to learn the truth, he now feels compelled to pry deeper and deeper into Dimmesdale’s psyche in the hopes of discovering something sordid. Dimmesdale, meanwhile, is half-aware of the change in Chillingworth but ignores his intuitive mistrust.