Essay on comparison between Dimmesdale and Chillingworth Character in the Scarlet Letter

Introduction

The novel Scarlet Letter is written by author Nathaniel Hawthorne's work and has been read widely across the globe. The result is a depiction of a powerful moral theme that has served in compelling readers from different generations. The author managed to develop the characters in a manner that is so appealing. That is a critical role having the characters being created in an effective manner so that they bring out the intended theme and that it becomes evident and also outstanding in The Scarlet Letter (Mazhar et al., 2020). Arthur Dimmesdale, as well as Rodger Chillingworth, are the two main characters in the novel. Chillingworth was Hester's husband while Dimmesdale was a church minister who served in a Boston congregation. There is a superficial look at the characters that have revealed some similarities and with a closer analysis that indicate the difference in their personalities. The paper will, therefore compare and contrast the two characters.

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Both characters have the qualification to be regarded as scholars. This is evident as Chillingworth was a medical doctor who had a wide scope of study while we see Dimmesdale was a seasoned minister who had shown a great understanding of religious matters. Therefore the two characters qualify for a positive public reputation considering their characters. Another similarity is that the two characters had fallen in love with the same woman. In spite of all that, they also have been identified to be longtime friends, and they were fond of each other, a thing that made them become longtime friends. There was evidence when Dimmedale was given healthcare and medical attention by Chillingworth after his health had deteriorated. However, the attachment and closeness came to an abrupt end when the truth unfolded. Later, there emerged that Dimmesdale was the one who committed adultery with the wife of his friend Chillingworth's wife. There is however a very important point to note, that the two had been sharing an intimate relationship with Hester. Both of them guarded their secrets with her, and they all expected the same level of loyalty from the woman.

From another perspective, Dimmesdale and Chillingworth are seen to be opposite from each other. After the act of committing adultery, we see Dimmensdale trying and taking all possible measures that would ensure the maintenance of a positive reputation without the compromisation of the position as a priest. He had an outward measure of covering up the sin outwardly. There is truth in that Dimmesdale was extremely tormented by the conscience as the sin that he committed and had decided to keep it secret. The fact that Dimmesdale became a very influential priest through the delivery of some compelling sermons to the congregation was interesting (Mazhar et al., 2020). He is ironically described by the author as one who had an angelic voice. That was a way of trying to portray him as one who is positively hiding the sins over a long time.

Chillingworth, on the other hand, has a totally different personality. After the realization that the wife had cheated on him, he wanted to revenge against her action and unfaithfulness. By not condoning adultery in the marriage, he appears to be the most straight forward person despite the fact that happened during the time that the wife thought that he had died. He also sought much in knowing exactly the father to his wife's daughter. Dimmesdale had a guilty conscience as being a consequence of the sins. However, Chillingworth showed a vengeful spirit that he could not rest until the things were made even (Mazhar et al., 2020). The guilt by Dimmesdale was enough to cause him emotional and physical trauma. The consequences of the sin were seen to be pinning him down despite him choosing to maintain the priest position. It was seen to be running his health. It was a motivation to Chillingworth to offer him medical cover as an effort of prolonging his life.

Dimmesdale proved to be an escapist. This is after he failed to admit the mistakes and sins or confess the sins. Every time his conscience hits on that, he develops an escape scheme to Europe together with Hester. That plan to escape and elope with Hester was clear proof that he was unwilling to face reality as it was. He planned to escape together with Hester and her daughter and rebuild their lives elsewhere. He had proved fragile despite the intention to escape (Mazhar et al., 2020). That fragility was a motivation to him in revealing the escaping intentions. That fragility was the factor that motivated him into revealing the truth to the public that he had loved with Hester and that they had a child. Confessing the secret was due to his health that had proven critical and had minimal survival chances. He managed to gain peace in the last days of his life after he decided to confront the mistakes. Chillingworth, on the other hand, died bitter from his determination to revenge. He developed depression after the realization that Dimmesdale was a lover to his wife, and that later caused his death. The sin by Dimmesdale was very bad, and he was the one who accused Hester of adultery, forcing her to wear the 'A'.

In conclusion, it is evident that the two characters Dimmesdale and Chillingworth, are the two main characters in the plot of the novel. They were friends, but they secretly were in love with the same woman as people from different convictions. Chillingworth was focusing on revenge against the wife for the unfaithfulness that he let the desire for revenge take away the happiness and his purpose (Mazhar et al., 2020). Dimmesdale, on the other hand, made the weaknesses evident by letting guilt control his life. He, however, faced reality in the last days and died peacefully.

The Scarlet Letter Movie Review

The movie begins in advance of the first scene of the novel, and it delves deep in Douglas Day Stewart early events that are only hinted in the tale. It takes much time despite being speculative, although there is much time taken for the romance between Hester and Dimmesdale getting off the ground. Things start moving when we get through the scene with two groping in a barn. When the colonist of the 17th century Puritan discovers that Hester who is a wife of an absent man is pregnant by a man whose name is withheld, she gets thrown to prison until the birth of the child. There is no much action in the novel except in the minds of the characters. The author managed to develop the characters in a manner that is so appealing (Mazhar et al., 2020). That is a critical role having the characters being developed in an effective manner so that they bring out the intended theme and that it becomes evident and also outstanding in The Scarlet Letter.

We see Dimmesdale visit Hester and they become very attracted to each other. They commit adultery on a bed of dried beans in a shed. Then Mituba watches them as she gets back to the master's bath. She holds a candle with the flame above the waterline, and at the climax, she gets it under the water, and it extinguishes with a hiss.

Dimmesdale pleads to reveal the truth, but she pledges silence from him. She later gets punishment for fornicating, which is wearing a scarlet A on the breasts all time so as to remind the town people of the grievous sin (Mazhar et al., 2020). The long lost husband, however, arrives after being presumed dead after being held captive in India. The wife's public humiliation does a little in stating the need to revenge, the course that he devotes all effort.

One of the strengths of the movie The Scarlet Letter is seen in the mastery of deception in the setting. There is a convincing mock-up of the colonial Boston, and there is great care that is taken in the assurance of the absence of anachronism. The forest, which is virtually represented in the novel has its space as well (Mazhar et al., 2020). There is a good looking picture, but the Scarlet Letter is in need of more than the nice appearances. However, there is a weakest ending part of the script. Away from the significance of the book, the last quarter is seen to be lugubrious melodramatic that turns out to be an action movie. If you happen to turn late into the film, you might end up thinking that they are scenes from another movie such as The Last of the Mohicans. There is no problem with the change during the conclusion, but they should have made the results more thoughtful than the peaceful facile or 'Hollywood-ized'version.

There is a credit to the filmmakers for their attempt to adapt classical American novel for the modern audiences. However, poor casting and poor choice of the scripts reduces the film to just a piece of soap opera. The letter that is placed on the breast of Hester may be an 'A', but the film does not deserve better than a C – on the performance (Mazhar et al., 2020). The rest of the film is much more than described, although it is much longer. Melodrama is developed after the arrival of the husband.

Just like in the novel, the two characters Dimmesdale and Chillingworth, are the two main characters in the plot of the novel. They were friends, but they secretly were in love with the same woman as people from different convictions. Chillingworth was focusing on revenge against the wife for the unfaithfulness that he let the desire for revenge take away the happiness and his purpose. Dimmesdale on the other hand made the weaknesses evident by letting guilt control his life. He however faces the reality in the last days and died peacefully.

References

Mazhar, S., Ayyub, A., & Rauf, M. B. (2020). Shame, Remorse And Atonement: An Analysis Of The Scarlet Letter In The Light Of Ghazalian Nafs E Lawwama And Freudian Superego. Habibia Islamicus (The International Journal Of Arabic And Islamic Research), 4(1), 39-50. Http://Habibiaislamicus.Com/Index.Php/Hirj/Article/Download/84/84