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In scarlet letter chapters 9-12 i have noticed how Chillingworth is trying to mentally and physically torchure dimmsdale. But my big question would be why? What did Dimmsdale ever do to Chillingworth in the first place? I have a theory that maybe Chillingworth is jealous that Dimmesdale and Hester are developing feelings for each other. Why else would there be a reason to torture him? He is probably thinking that how could Hester Cheat on him with Dimmsdale! So then he decided to torture both Dimmesdale and Hester but found that Dimmesdale was an easy target so he focused on him more. In my opinion why does he even want to torture them and have revenge? Is it because he lost his wife and he’s angry about that but instead of letting it go he uses that anger against innocent Hester and Dimmsdale. If thats the case then that is not a healthy way to let out his anger! I mean come on now, don’t you think Chillingworth is being a little too dramatic about this whole “torture Hester and Dimmesdale because I didn’t get my happiness”? Hawthorne did state that at first Chillingworth was a very nice person so why all this drama? I think that he is jealous that he couldn’t give Hester the happiness that Dimmesdale gives her. Chillingworth is probably just letting out all the anger out about his past on Hester and Dimmsdale. Which I think is stupid, like come on dude! Just move on and let her go already! If she’s happy then why can't you let them be happy? Anyway in the end I think that Chillingworth should bottle up his jealousy in a bottle and throw it in the ocean because torturing Hester and Dimmesdale is just going to get him nowhere.
-Savneet Kaur