Saturday, October 30, 2010

The Scarlet Letter 20

The Scarlet Letter

Chapter Fifteen

Entry Twenty


In chapter fifteen, Hster realizes she hates Chillingworth wholeheartly although she knows hatred is a sin (if you associate it with wrath, it even is a mortal sin). But she rather risks going to hell than feeling anything positive for her husband.
“Whether or not it’s a sin,” said Hester bitterly, as she stared after him, “I hate the man!”
Furthermore, she comes to the conclusion that he is doing worse to her than she did to him. Chillingworth's slow killing of her secret love tortures her more than she thinks her betrayal hurt him.
This is the price for the marriage between Chillingworth and Hester without love. If he hadn't persuaded her to marry him, he wouldn't have ended up as such a broken man cought in cravings for revenge.

She wouldn't have admitted the fact she hates him to herself if she hadn't stood there watching her old husband. But while she is doing that his dark light is shining on her, bringing forth her soul's black side. Only because of this Hester Prynne is able to be honest to herself.

1 comment:

  1. Yes, Hester is able to be honest and she come to terms with her sin and her husband's change. Good entry.

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