Lavender's AP Lit Class Blog
Friday, October 29, 2010
Revenge
I am thinking about writing my essay about revenge in the novel. I am thinking about including how even though revenge is supposed to end up biting the person seeking revenge in the end, this doesn't really apply to Roger Chillingworth. His revenge was really far worse for Dimsdale than Chillingworth in the end. Dimsdale had to suffer from Roger Chillingworth for seven years, during which Roger was feeding off of this pain. During this time life was perfect for Chillingworth. Chillingworth died soon after Dimsdale confessed. It cannot be said that this was punishment for Chillingworth's revenge because he was going to die soon anyway. He was an old man and the life expectancy wasn't too long in colonial boston. some other things I am thinking about including are the scenes on page 121 and on 136-138. 121 shows how excited Chillingworth is when he rips off Dimsdale's shirt and reveals the Scarlet Letter or whatever to himself. This shows how excited Chillingworth is to be able to feed off of Dimsdale's suffering. 136-138 shows how Dimsdale is suffering because of Chillingworth and how Dimsdale can't escape. Something else I am thinking about including is explaining hwo chillingworth gets revenge by showing how he tells Hester that it is better for him if they continue on suffering. by showing these examples it will show how Chillingworth is able to get a very good revenge. then I will explain how it never really comes back to hurt him because he was going to die anyway.
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i agree with you and this is what I'm writing about too
ReplyDeletethis will be a great essay topic. not only i Chillingworth have revenge on Dimmesdale but, he also is the greatest sinner. this topic is a big part of the book.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Mitch--and a good approach to this essay (I'm anxious to see your first draft). Do start by going back and looking at what Chillingworth says to Hester early on in the prison, when he points out that if his aim were to extend her suffering, he'd do everything in his power to keep her alive and subject to the shame of the scarlet letter, rather than give her poison and end her suffering then and there. This is essentially what he winds up doing to Dimmesdale.
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