ng [himself] black and filthy in the view of men...[he] goes about among [his] fellow-creatures looking pure as new-fallen snow while [his] heart [is] all speckled and spotted with iniquity of which [he] cannot rid [himself].” (101) Dimmesdale wants to reveal to his people his sin, but when he finally does, he dies shortly afterwards.Roger Chillingworth, a physician, comes to New England after Hester has had her baby, Pearl. Roger decides that the only thing he is going to live for is to seek revenge, never once feeling guilty about this decision. “Thou wilt not reveal his name? Not the less he is mine...He bears no letter of infamy wrought into his garment, as thou dost; but I shall read it on his heart. yet fear not for him! Think not that I shall interfere with Heaven’s own method of retribution, or, to my own loss, betray him to the gripe of human law. Neither do thou imagine that I shall contrive aught against his life; no, nor against his fame, if, as I judge, he be a man of fair repute. Let him live! Let him hide himself in outward honour, if he may? Not the less he shall be mine!” (57)Chillingworth moves in with Dimmesdale, acting as a leech (a doctor) to him. He wants to keep Dimmesdale alive only to torment him by seeking revenge on him and reminding him of his sin.Who commits the greater sin? Is it Hester for adultering while still being in wedlock with Chillingworth? Is it Dimmesdale for adultering while being a man of God? Is it Chillingworth for living only to seek revenge and never once feeling guilty about it? Chillingworth seems to have the greater of the sins. He lives only for the revenge, nothing more. However, Chillingworth and Dimmesdale both suffer the same punishment from God, in the end--death. Dimmesdale’s death could also be viewed as a freedom from his guilt instead of as a punishment. God punishes Chillingworth greater than he punishes Dimmesdale or Hester bec...
