Chillingworth (character)

Roger Chillingworth is a complex character from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s "The Scarlet Letter." He is a learned, intelligent man who, after discovering his wife Hester's affair, becomes obsessively vengeful. Posing as a healer, he secretly seeks to punish her lover, Reverend Dimmesdale. Chillingworth's obsession with revenge consumes him, leading to moral corruption and spiritual decay. His character embodies themes of vengeance and the destructive nature of obsession, illustrating how an individual’s fixation on retribution can erode their humanity and moral integrity.