Darkness/ Paleness

1. Darkness/Paleness At the scaffold, Hester “beheld another countenance, of a man well stricken in years, a pale, thin, scholar-like visage, with eyes dim and bleared by the lamplight” (44). At this introduction of Chillingsworth, Hawthorne describes him as “pale,” a condition that most likely arises from his time spent both in captivity of the Native Americans and his studies that account for his “scholar-like visage.” When Chillingsworth arrives to see Hester on the scaffold, he is completely unaware and innocent of any feelings of revenge. In fact, Chillingsworth, in his interview with Hester in the prison, says that he truly cared for Hester and wanted to “dr[a]w [her] into [his] heart, into its innermost chamber, and sought to warm [her] by the warmth which [her] presence made there!” (53). Chillingsworth’s human desire to have a “household fire” and find some love showcases the innocent and gentle nature of his soul at the beginning of the novel. However, as Chillingsworth sets his heart upon revenge on Hester’s partner, his desire to hurt another begins to darken the very features of his face and body.

2. As Chillingsworth probes deeper into Hester’s mystery, Hawthorne writes, “What a change had come over his features, how much uglier they were, how his dark complexion seemed to have grown duskier, and his figure more misshapen” (85). Here, Hawthorne suggests that Chillingsworth’s need for revenge is a sin far worse than the overwhelming passion of Hester; Hester both remains true to herself and tries to placate the stern Puritan society, but Chillingsworth has burrowed into the soul of another person in order to inflict harm. Therefore, Chillingsworth grows “uglier,” “more misshapen,” and “duskier,” as if his need for revenge was both twisting his body and lowering his soul towards the fiery darkness of hell, a place that for the Puritans was extremely close at hand.