Scarlet Letter Essay- Love/Hate

For my essay, I would like to elaborate and further explore the idea of love and hate in the novel. To kick it off, I want to use the quote, "It is a curious subject of observation and inquiry, whether hatred and love be not the same thing at the bottom. Each, in its utmost development, supposes a high degree of intimacy and heart-knowledge; each renders one individual dependent for the food of his affections and spiritual life upon another; each leaves the passionate lover, or the no less passitonate hater, forlorn and desolate by the withdrawal of his object." When I was reading this, I was struck by the intellectual power of this statement. I feel like anyone can relate to this. There are always going to people you like and dislike, but to love and hate are such powerful emotions that truly do require dependence on the other loved/hated subject. I want to go into depth with the relationship between Dimmesdale and Chillingworth, mainly Chillingworth's hate towards Dimmesdale. I also want to delve into the bonds between Hester and Dimmesdale and how their love towards each other was/affected the plot. This quote was very inspirational and the minute I read it I knew I wanted to look further into the relationships in the book.