Student Question
What quotes show Dimmesdale's and Chillingworth's declining health in The Scarlet Letter?
Quick answer:
Dimmesdale's declining health is depicted in Chapter 11, where he is described as suffering from bodily disease and tormented by "black trouble of the soul," exacerbated by guilt and Chillingworth's manipulation. This affliction contributes to his public success but reveals his inner turmoil. For Chillingworth, his deteriorating health is suggested in Chapter 15, where he is described as a "deformed old figure" with a haunting face, indicating his failing physical condition.
In chapter 11, we find some very specific descriptions of Dimmsdale's physical decline in the words:
While thus suffering under bodily disease, and gnawed and tourtured by some black trouble of the soul, and given over to the machinations of his deadliest enemy, the Reverend Mr. Dimmsdale had achieved a brilliant popularity in his sacred office. He won it, indeed, in great part by his sorrows.
I like how this description uses the term "black" and suggests his phsyical affliction is borne of his sorrow and guilt. This chapter is even entitled "The Interior of a Heart" as it is a study of his condition. It goes on to report that in private, Dimmsdale essentially tortured himself in an effort to purify himself from this great sin.
A quote I found for Chillingworth occurs in chapter 15, after the chapter titled "Hester and the Physician".
Hathorne narrates about him:
So Roger Chillingworth - a deformed old figure, with a face that haunted men's memories longer than they liked - took leave of Hester.
Obviously in appearance, Chillingworth is a great fright to look at which would only arise out of a failing physical condition.
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