Justice Explored in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter Essay

Justice Explored in The Scarlet Letter   Nathaniel Hawthorne created themes in The Scarlet Letter just as signifi elicitt as the taken for granted(predicate) ideas pertaining to transgression and Puritan society. Roger Chillingworth is a character through which one of these themes resonates, and a character that is often underplayed in analysis. His weakness and path of destruction of himself and others argon summed up in one of Chillingworths last sentences in the novel, to Arthur Dimmesdale Hadst thou seek the whole earth over... there were no place so secret, no high place nor lowly place, where thou couldst have escaped me, redeem on this very scaffold (171).   This powerful line from Chillingworth holds three meanings. First, Dimmesdale can save himself only through confession in public. Secondly, it shows the true sin and suffering in Chillingworth himself. In this regard, the line is just as primal in reiterating the sickness in Chillingworth as it is in showing the throe in Dimmesdale. Finally, this statement creates a parallel between Chillingworths idea of evaluator and the Puritans.   The theme Hawthorne builds up in Chillingworth is not simply his pain and torment. It is a more important representation of the weakness in the values of the nation in Puritan times, and how their perseverance for justice skewed their views on flavour and forgiveness. Because of his mindset, Chillingworth torments himself with his goal to destroy Dimmesdale just as much as Dimmesdale tortures himself for their septette historic period together. Chillingworth is ruining his own life and does not realize it, because he no longer sees the value in life as he tries to ruin one.   The first foreshadowing we see of Chillingworths obsession begins... ...h life because of that. Dimmesdale, on the other hand, faced Puritan torture under Chillingworth for the seven years without benefit of the release of guilt Hester had found by being in the public e ye. Dimmesdales only release from guilt was not the scaffold, but finis itself.   Hawthornes statement through Chillingworth offers insight into Dimmesdale and Chillingworth along with a representation of Hawthornes objurgation of the Puritan values. This disapproval is the driving force of the novel, and it underlies the relationship between Dimmesdale, Chillingworth, and the usual great justice of God. The contrast of the Puritans justice and Gods makes the message of the story greater than a love story or a story of a sin. With this theme, The Scarlet Letter becomes a comparison of the flawed justice of world and the divine justice of God.