How Does Chillingworth Use Power In The Crucible

Strong male characters use their power for both good and evil in literature. In Nathaniel Hawthorne's Novel, The Scarlet Letter, we see Roger Chillingworth using his power over Reverend Dimmesdale by torturing him psychologically for his own pleasure. Iago, the antagonist in the classic Shakespearean tragedy, Othello, drives an esteemed general to the brink of insanity and manages to kill a few people in the process. Finally, in The Crucible, a tragedy written by Arthur Miller, where John Proctor uses his power and standing in the community to put an end to the witch trials and he saved many lives, by giving up his own. Roger Chillingworth is consistently a symbol of cold reason and intellect unencumbered by human compassion. While Reverend Dimmesdale has intellect but lacks will, Chillingworth has both. Chillingworth becomes the essence of evil in chapter 10 when he finds the scarlet letter on Dimmesdale’s chest, where there is "no need to ask how Satan comports himself when a precious human soul is lost to heaven, and won into his kingdom." As time goes by Dimmesdale become more frail under the constant torture of Chillingworth. Even the town

He claims a reputation for honesty and plain speaking, in the play the others refer to him as “honest Iago,” yet he invents elaborate lies in order to exploit and manipulate other people. Unfortunately he is surrounded with bitter irony. In chapter one Iago says “I am not what I am,” which can be interpreted as “I am not what I seem.” What is good for him is bad for others and people repeatedly rely on him and he betrays them. Much like a sociopath, Iago likes to have other unwittingly working to serve his purposes. Iago is also a man with an obsession for control and power over others who has let his obsession take over his whole life. Ultimately, Iago achieved his goal in destroying Othello and obtaining power, unfortunately he is not alive to bask in that