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Evil Transformation
Slowly throughout the novel, Chillingworth becomes more and more like the devil. His appearance even changes because of the evil taking over him. His purpose in life becomes to torture Dimmesdale. No matter the circumstances, he wanted to get revenge on Dimmesdale. Doctors of that time were often called “leeches”. They were called leeches because of the old method of attaching leeches to the sick to suck out illness. Chillingworth is Dimmesdales “leech”. Chillingworth slowly sucked the life out of Dimmesdale by torturing him physically and mentally.
If Chillingworth reveals himself as Hesters husband, he would face humiliation because of his wifes affair. Chillingworth wants revenge. He thinks that by keeping his identity secret he can form a better plan to achieve his revenge. By keeping his identity a secret, he feels that he can better find out who is the father of her child. This also protects his motives from being known. While he is talking to Hester when she is in jail he says, “Even if I imagine a scheme of vengeance, what could I do better for my object than to let thee live,-than give thee medicines against all harm and peril of life,-so that this burning shame may still blaze upon thy bosom?” (Hawthorne 68). He believes that by keeping her alive he is in a better position to torture her than if he were to simply reveal himself as her husband. He thinks that by allowing Hester to live he can better torture her rather than if he were to poison her.
Chillingworth physically changes throughout the novel. He changes from what he describes himself as, “a man of thought, the bookworm of great libraries” (Hawthorne 69), to an evil, corrupt, and devilish person. Hester immediately begins the physical changes happening in Chillingworth. “Hester Prynne was startled to perceive what a change had come over his features – how his dark complexion seemed to have grown duskier, and his figure more misshapen” (Hawthorne 102). The inward changes begin to affect his outward appearance. As Chillingworths plan for revenge evolves, he no longer uses his knowledge to benefit others but to torment them. Because he presented himself as a doctor, he is appointed by the townspeople to take care of their beloved Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. Chillingworth and Dimmesdale become acquaintances and eventually Chillingworth is asked by the townspeople to move in with Dimmesdale in order to better treat his illness.
Chillingworth is constantly at the side of the Reverend as part of his plan for revenge. He starts to suspect that Dimmesdale is concealing a great secret. He tries to get Dimmesdale to confess his secret, but the Reverend keeps refusing. Chillingworth discovers a mark on Dimmesdales chest. This mark is his confirmation that Dimmesdale is Pearls father. Chillingworth is completely overcome with joy knowing that he at last found his victim. The look upon his face was described as, “Had a man seen old Roger