The True Victim

There is not one direct way to describe the analysis of the events in the The Scarlet Letter because it is a book that makes the reader feel sympathy for some characters and anger towards others. Throughout the book the reader understands that Chillingworth and Dimmesdale suffer for different purposes. Chillingworth is exceptionally hurt that Dimmesdale has slept with his wife, Hester. Therefore, he strives for revenge upon him by acting like a faithful friend while torturing him and making his poor health worse. Dimmesdale becomes ill and his sickness worsens, making him a completely different person. He shifts from a faithful, religious figure, who understands every one, to a person full of guilt, shame, and pain. It is completely true that Chillingworth is angry and hurt because he feels discriminated against his manhood. However, the real victim is Dimmesdale because he was not only keeping his guilt and pain a secret, but also he was unable to take care of his daughter and only love, Hester. He was tortured by his sickness, which was a result of his secret and guilt. He also felt guilty in front of all the people that respected and loved him as a kind minister because he was lying to them by keeping them unaware of his sin. All these feelings were kept inside of him, which made him ill and miserable. Even though he had planned to leave all that happened behind and move on, he did not live happily and peacefully with his family because he passed away right after his last sermon. A year later Chillingworth passed away left with no one to carry out revenge on. Chillingworth was not one to feel sympathy for because his purpose for living was not to look for justice but to perform his act of revenge on Dimmesdale. His character was mentally grotesque and he represented true evil. Not only did he waste his life, but he did not succeed in his plan for revenge because Dimmesdale publically confessed and passed away with relief.