Hester Prynne And Roger Chillingworth example essay topic

To Characterize a Character Character is the combination of qualities and features that distinguish a person, group, or thing from others. The wise Benjamin Disraeli once said, "Characters do no change. Opinions alter, but characters are only developed". This statement is worth acknowledging, however, I disagree. Characters are an essential part of any literary piece, and in the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, I have observed several characters alter and change.

Of course, Disraeli is referring to the character within a person and I am referring to characters (or imaginary people) in a novel, but they do have a relation. What would a novel's character be without an inner character, or personality? Drastic alterations of character occur in both Hester Prynne and Roger Chillingworth. But who, in reference to my statement of what character is, has more of it?

Hester Prynne is the social outcast of the Puritan village due to her sin of committing adultery. She wears a large letter "A" on her bosom and is constantly put to shame by it. The townspeople (including children) openly mock her as she walks about. But even so, Hester endures it and has gained great strength from it. Though she is an outcast, she works hard and continues to keep herself and her daughter, Pearl, alive and well. Hester achieves survival through sewing.

She has, .".. bore on her breast, in the curiously embroidered letter, a specimen of her delicate and imaginative skills... ". (Page 56). She even sews clothing for the homeless, but they are ungrateful for it.

Because of her ability to stay alive, and help the needy even though nobody ever helped her, some referred to the letter "A" on her chest as "Able". Roger Chillingworth, who is secretly the husband of Hester Prynne, has a great amount of character, also. He arrives in town and decides to stay upon his promise to discover the father of Hester's child. He serves as a physician knowing several medicine concoctions from roots and weeds, as taught by the Indians. Soon, it is suggested by people of the town that Chillingworth should move in with Reverend Dimmesdale in order to care for him during his time of illness. After living together for a while, Chillingworth realizes that Dimmesdale's illness is not a physical illness.

It is due to some internal and spiritual illness, such as guilt. Chillingworth takes advantage of this finding and plays with the Reverend's emotions already knowing that he is the father of Pearl. "He groped along as stealthily, with as cautious a tread, and as wary an outlook, as a thief entering a chamber where a an lies only half asleep, -or, it may be broad awake, -with purpose to steal the very treasure which this man guards as the apple of his eye", (Page 89). This situation sets up the image of Chillingworth's character alteration. And that is that he has gone from. ".. calm in temperament, kindly, though not of warm affections, but ever, and in all his relations with the world, a pure and upright man", (Page 88), to a man that allows for evil to control him at times.

At one point in the story, Chillingworth's actions even compare to those of Satan as, "Had a man seen old Roger Chillingworth, at that moment of his ecstasy, he would have had no need to ask how Satan comports himself, when a precious human soul is lost to heaven, and won into his kingdom", (Page 95). While looking at Hester's character of going from an adulteress to one that is able, you see the ability of Hester to grow and become stronger. Chillingworth, on the other hand, goes the opposite direction. He begins well and then loses his strength as he allows for evil to control him at times. This simple comparison makes it clear that Hester Prynne has more character.

This is because, as I refer to my earlier statement, "Character is the combination of qualities and features that distinguish a person, group, or thing from others", I have realized that it is easy to be evil, and more difficult to find truly kind people that are able to pick themselves up after a mistake and learn from that mistake. Therefore, Hester Prynne has more character because her kindness separates her from others. It is difficult to find kind people. But when there is one, a light is shown upon them and they should be allowed the recognition of good character. In this case, it is not only good character, but more character, also.