Compare And Contrast Hester Prynne And Roger Chillingworth

In the novel, The Scarlet Letter, both Hester Prynne and Roger Chillingworth are both very strong willed, in more ways than one. Throughout the story, and especially the first few chapters, Hester’s loyalty to her lover shows as her most strongest feature and is as bold as the scarlet letter sitting upon her bosom. Although it sets her back way more than it did her any good (keeping in mind the magistrate said that her lover should stand on the scaffold with her), Hester stood her ground for the one she loves, or did love at one point in time. Going on to Roger Chillingworth, he was not one to give up easily. For one, after many many years of being away at sea, he still managed to make it back to see his wife. However, though, this is pretty much as far as the similarities go. Hester is more of a hot, in the moment kind of person. Roger is detached and cold, strong will and determination probably the only two characteristics making him human.

How would you feel if

you were being interrogated in order to find out the name of your dearest love, so they too could be shamed by your side?

Hester felt terrible, especially since she had to do this in public, where everyone could see. That day, when she was standing in front of the townspeople, Hester wore a mask of indifference, that could only be executed by a person whose will is made of iron. As much as the whole situation hurt her (the scarlet letter, the people staring at her, the Magistrate trying to figure out her secrets…), her composure was kept perfectly intact. “‘Speak, woman… Speak, and give your child a father!’” The Magistrate begged and begged, but her answer, as it is shown in chapter 3 of The Scarlet Letter, was always along the lines of, “‘I will not speak… My child must seek a

heavenly father; she will never have an earthly one… ’” With that being said, I think there isn’t much more that has to be said about Hester for my point to be made. A townsman says to him (Roger in disguise), “‘Some years ago, [Roger Chillingworth] decided to cross the ocean and join us in Massachusetts. He sent his wife ahead of him and stayed behind to tend to some business.’” He goes on to basically say that everyone think Hester’s husband died at sea. The point of that excerpt is, he could have died at sea, he could’ve just simply given up on his journey to the New Land, or he could have easily forgotten about the whole “Hester” ordeal, but he didn’t. He stuck all the way through his plan, no matter how many holes, trying to stump him, in the way. Even though it was for the wrong reasons, he promised his wife that he would keep her secret. He promised he would have his revenge as well. “‘We share a connection that will [your lover] to me. When he trembles, I will feel it. Sooner or later, he will be mine.’”