Chapter 9 Summary and Analysis
Roger Chillingworth is the “leech” of this chapter’s title. Following his meeting with Hester, Roger began working as a physician in Boston. While held captive by the Native Americans, he learned a great deal about natural medicine, which he uses in his practice. He quickly becomes renowned for his work, which leads him to become Reverend Dimmesdale’s personal physician. The minister has some misgivings about the arrangement. He would much rather suffer without treatment and die as is, without medical intervention. Nevertheless, Chillingworth starts to treat him.
Chillingworth becomes fascinated with the minister. Dimmesdale, in turn, feels a certain intellectual curiosity toward Chillingworth, whose education as a physician intrigues the minister. They engage in many intellectual conversations about a wide range of topics, including ethics, religion, and even public affairs. Pleased by this friendship, the townspeople arrange for the two to lodge together in a small house owned by a Christian widow. Here, Dimmesdale takes a sunny room on one side of the house, while Chillingworth sets up a small laboratory on the other.
Not everyone thinks highly of Chillingworth, however. Some townsfolk suspect him of being evil, citing the changes in his appearance his face has undergone since he settled in Boston and became acquainted with the Reverend. It appears that Chillingworth and Dimmesdale are engaged in a sort of quiet, moral war of which only one of them can be the victor.
Alliteration
Allusions
Foreshadowing
Metaphor
Expert Q&A
In Chapter 9 of The Scarlet Letter, what is the meaning of the quote on page 108?
"Skillful men, of the medical profession were of rare occurrence in the colony. They seldom ... partook of the religious zeal that brought other emigrants across the Atlantic."
The quote highlights the rarity of skilled medical professionals in the colony, suggesting that many doctors did not share the religious motivations that drove other emigrants to America. Nathaniel Hawthorne implies that doctors had little incentive to leave England, where they were in demand and could earn a good living. This scarcity made Roger Chillingworth's arrival a "brilliant acquisition" for the community, providing him respectability while he pursued his darker motives.
What contrast between two types of men is presented in Chapter 9 of The Scarlet Letter?
Chapter 9 contrasts the deceptive Roger Chillingworth with the revered Arthur Dimmesdale. Chillingworth, under the guise of a physician, secretly aims to torment Dimmesdale, while the minister is respected and idolized by his parishioners. The townspeople suspect Chillingworth's malevolent intentions, viewing him as a demonic figure, whereas Dimmesdale is seen as a sanctified leader. This contrast sets up the central conflict of Dimmesdale's internal struggle against Chillingworth's manipulations.
In chapter 9 of The Scarlet Letter, what new identity has Chillingworth assumed and why is he successful?
Chillingworth has assumed the identity of a doctor to conceal his true identity as Hester's husband. His success lies in becoming Reverend Dimmesdale's constant companion and physician, allowing him to probe Dimmesdale's psyche to uncover his secret. Chillingworth's growing darkness and rumored strange medical practices, learned during captivity with the Indians, add to his mysterious persona. Despite his care, Dimmesdale's health does not improve, reflecting Chillingworth's underlying malicious intent.
Why doesn't Chillingworth assert his rights as Hester's husband in Chapter 9?
Chillingworth avoids claiming his rights as Hester's husband because he does not want his identity revealed, which would expose him to social disgrace and scrutiny over his past with Native Americans, a lifestyle viewed suspiciously by Puritans. He also lacks a loving bond with Hester and desires no relationship with her. Instead, his primary focus is on uncovering and exacting revenge on Hester's partner in adultery, using his anonymity to facilitate this goal.
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