American Renaissance literature is rich in symbolism, and in no author's work is this more evident than in that of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Perhaps the most popular of his works, The Scarlet Letter has long been dissected and analyzed by scholars and critics; Repeatedly, his characters were torn apart and examined for their symbolic meaning. Of these characters, one of the most fascinating and controversial is Roger Chillingworth. In this novel, Hawthorne uses Chillingworth as both a symbol of evil and an embodiment of guilt. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Hawthorne exploits Chillingworth throughout the story as the personification of guilt. From the beginning, Chillingworth is described as "a deformed old figure, with a face that haunted men's memories longer than they would have liked" (Male 30). A parallel can clearly be drawn here, for guilt has a tendency to linger in the conscience and torment the soul of the transgressor. In extreme circumstances, guilt can, as in Roger Chillingworth's case, become a leech that drains his array of nerves, will, and physical energy. As a result of guilt, Chillingworth invades the mansion, which is commonly used as a symbol of the heart in Hawthorne's fiction (Male 30). At the beginning of the novel, Chillingworth appears out of nowhere to confront Hester in her prison cell. Subsequently, he manages to insinuate himself into Dimmesdale's house as a permanent resident. Being a permanent part of Dimmesdale's life, just as the constant presence of guilt torments the conscience, Chillingworth makes life miserable for the minister. Dimmesdale is in perfect health until Chillingworth moves away. Soon after, his body slowly begins to weaken and his health fails. Although Chillingworth acts like a true friend to Dimmesdale, their conversations torment the reverend and the doctor's medications only aggravate his patient's symptoms. Chillingworth, as a guilt trip, assaults Dimmesdale's spiritual defenses and gains complete control of the minister's mind, body, and spirit (Stein 81). Just as running from guilt can cause spiritual torment, if Dimmesdale gives in to self-pity and moral cowardice and runs away. the agreement, he will condemn himself to an eternal hell (Stein 81). Only by knowing Chillingworth and dealing with him face to face is the priest's moral growth possible (Male 30). Until it is recognized, the guilt will remain to fester in the minister's heart. Chillingworth gradually withers as Hester and Dimmesdale come closer to fully recognizing him, worsening his situation when Dimmesdale reveals his sin. It is said of Chillingworth that, after Dimmesdale's death, "all his strength and energy, all his vital and intellectual force, seemed to abandon him suddenly... he withered, withered, and almost vanished from the sight of mortals" (Hawthorne 254 ). This is a clear example of how the sense of guilt, upon revelation of sin, seems to dissolve. Over the course of the novel, Roger Chillingworth becomes a representation of the horrible effects that evil can have on a person. Materializing from the forest, a symbol of evil itself (Baym 60), the doctor is seen for the first time by the people of Providence as a blessing. However, Chillingworth's carnal nature, separated from his spiritual one, transforms him (http://ourworld.compuserve.come/homepages/jbair/realwit.htm). Through him, the reader sees, as Hawthorne says, "man's faculty of [turning] into a devil" (166). The physical proof of its degradationmorality is seen as the previous appearance of this intellectual and studious man is gradually replaced by an appearance of ferocious and penetrating ugliness (Stein 80). These outward changes do not go unnoticed by his neighbors: at first his expression was calm, meditative, scholarly. Now, there was something ugly and evil in his face, which they had not noticed before... it was a very common opinion, that the reverend... was being persecuted by Satan himself, or by Satan's emissary, in the guise of by old Roger Chillingworth (Hawthorne 124). The fire in Chillingworth's laboratory was even said to have been brought straight from Hell itself. There is not a part of Chillingworth's life in which one cannot see evidence of the destruction brought upon the doctor by the evil that overtook him. One of the most affected aspects, and perhaps the one with the greatest effect on other areas of his life, is his spiritual faith. When evil is invited into the soul, religious beliefs seem to be the first to disappear. Although of Puritan origin, the doctor openly confesses to Hester that he has long forgotten Christianity. It questions, even denies, the existence of the human soul, thus rejecting the eternal nature of man. Further evidence of his spiritual deterioration occurs when Chillingworth refuses to forgive Dimmesdale, thus defying the work of grace. When Chillingworth rejects the core spiritual values ​​that give meaning to life, he invites the catastrophe of moral anarchy (Stein 80). Hawthorne's theory of fatalism shows that the punishment for sin is certain (Turner 58). Chillingworth and the “Bogeyman” he serves represent perverse goodness (Abel 73). While Chillingworth is said to be deformed from birth, and it is known that physical deformity is often a symbol of some internal distortion (Ragussis 74), it is also stated that the doctor did not always have such evil practices. This is not to say, however, that his benevolence was so innate and habitual as to make a lapse into malevolence unlikely. Chillingworth slowly evolves from a man capable of love to a man capable of committing the greatest sin in The Scarlet Letter. Although, just like many other mortals, Chillingworth begins his journey down the path of sin as a rational human being, he is quickly overtaken by his goals. His drive for revenge and control causes him to lose touch with humanity and become obsessed with it. Through the doctor, the reader can see how evil can lead a person to give up their identity and independence. As a leech, Chillingworth becomes completely dependent on Dimmesdale, for "a terrible fascination, a kind of ferocious...necessity seized him in its grip, and never released him again until he had done all that was asked of him" (Hawthorne 125). Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Although Hawthorne's intentions for portraying Roger Chillingworth in The Scarlet Letter remain disputed, it is agreed that he designed Chillingworth as a powerful figure. Analyzing this unforgettable character, two of the most accepted interpretations are Chillingworth as a symbol of evil and Chillingworth as an abstract of guilt. The former is illustrated through the physical and spiritual transformations he undergoes over the course of the novel. The latter is represented in the changes Dimmesdale undergoes during the doctor's stay. Despite the various positions on his character, Roger Chillingworth is a great example of Hawthorne's symbolism and will continue to intrigue and disturb readers for years to come. Works Cited Abel, Darrel. “Chillingworth as Miltonic Satan.”, 1986., 1961.