Revenge Hurts the Avenger, by Bertina

In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter (Custom House),” Roger Chilling worth is obsessed with gaining revenge against Reverend Arthur Dimondale. Merriam-Webster defines revenge as “to avenge (as oneself) usually by retaliating in kind or degree.” As a result of Chillingworth’s determination in making Arthur pay for committing adultery with his wife, his need for revenge ultimately is responsible for his defeat. Revenge is a sin that causes mental, physical, and spiritual pain especially to the person responsible for afflicting it on others. This is the case in the story as well as in today’s society.

In the story as well as today’s society revenge has become an acceptable behavior for dealing with out of control emotions. This behavior can be seen in high profile divorces, child custody battles, and civil lawsuits. Chillingworth’s desire for revenge drove him to a state of obsessive behavior. Hawthorne writes, “they fear to take up the shame that rightfully belongs to them” (1423) as Chillingworth continue to make comments that are directed specifically toward Dimmesdale’s secret. He is unable to control his desire for revenge because the desire for revenge is the strongest emotion he is feeling. Having knowledge of Dimmesdale’s secret gives Chillingworth the illusion of power, when in reality he is causing more harm to himself mentally. Therefore, his revenge is working in reverse of the intent.

However, the results of physical problems vary from mental, in that physical issues can be seen with the naked eye. Chillingworth’s revenge starts to take a toll on an already ailing Dimmesdale. Hawthorne states, “So Roger Chillingworth a deformed old figure, with a face that haunted men’s memories longer than they liked” (1446) as an example of Chillingworth’s physical change. Since Chillingworth is driven by getting revenge on Dimmesdale, as a physician he is aware of the affects of his behavior on his health. Likewise, in today’s society when two individuals are going through a nasty divorce, one party will eventually attack the other in a manner that will lead to physical ailments.

The Puritans desired to be close to God and would not have approved of Chillingworth’s behavior. Particularly, Dimmesdale is the minister of the community and loved by his congregation. Chillingworth has become a representative for the devil and spiritually is bankrupt. Hawthorne states, “In a word, old Roger Chillingworth was a striking evidence of a man’s faculty of transforming himself into a devil” (1443). This is what happens then and now when a soul is sold to the devil. It appears that Chillingworth has sold his soul and has no desire to win it back. As he continues with his obsessive behavior to gain revenge, he continues to lose more of himself. This can be seen more clearly after Dimmesdale reveals himself on the scaffold and Chillingworth’s response is “Thou hast escaped me! Thou hast escaped me!

To conclude, from the Puritan times to present day, revenge has no place in society. Revenge has proven time and time again to cause more harm than good to all persons involved. The bible states “revenge is mine saith the Lord”, which tells us to leave revenge to the Lord. There is no harm we can cause to an individual that will not bring harm to us as well. If individuals in today’s society live by this rule, there would be less domestic and gang violence.

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. “The Scarlett Letter.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. 7^th ed. Vol B. New York:Norton, 2007. 1352-1489.