Scarlet Letter # 10

"Whenever Pearl saw anything to excite her ever-active and wandering curiosity, she flew thitherward, and, as we might say, seized upon that man or thing as her own property, so far as she deserved it"(Hawthorne 219).

It is normal for a young child to go through a selfish stage, but such behavior is described as typical for Pearl's character. It is interesting that Pearl's habit of claiming things as her own is first attributed to men, and then to material possessions. That is very odd, as Pearl has rarely been shown showing any desire to be near anyone other than her mother. Perhaps Pearl's interaction with Dimmesdale has caused her to develope an interest in other people. Just as likely, she may simply desire the attention of everyone she passes. I wonder how long her excitement lasts. That is, how long does it take for her to become bored with the people she claims?

"Nothing was more remarkable than the change which took place, almost immediately after Mr. Dimmesdale's death, in the appearance and demeanor of the old man known as roger Chillingworth. All his strength and energy-all his vital and intellectual force-seemed at once to desert him"(232).

Chillingworth, having focused so many years on making Dimmesdale suffer only for Dimmesdale to escape him, is left with nothing. He no longer has any drive, or reason to continue living. Even though Chillingworth deserves punishment, this is very sad. Chillingworth was, at one time, a very compassionate and intellectual physician. It is a shame that he is unable to return to his former self and continue helping people. Chillingworth's obsession with revenge ended up consuming him to the point where he forgot all about kindness and forgiveness. He threw away his former life of virture to take up a life of vengeance. There was no other life that Chillingworth could live, and he knew it. This is especially clear when Dimmesdale is preparing to confess his sin, and Chillingworth begs him not to. Earlier in the novel, Chillingworth said that Dimmesdale needed to admit to his crime to free himself. However, Chillingworth was not willing to let Dimmesdale do that. Chillingworth was not working for justice, but rather for inflicting damage on another to sustain himself.