#45
The old man, on the other hand, had brought himself nearer to her level, or perhaps below it, by the revenge which he had stooped for.
All of the characters have been altered. Pearl is now older and more mature in ways while Hester is like the town nurse instead of the village witch. Dimmesdale has been reduced to struggling for his life from the guilt he's been bearing and Chillingsworth has been deformed due to his evil ways. The two couples contrast each other with the results of their interactions.
Chillingsworth has literally begun to stoop to Hester's apparent level. Hawthorn says Roger has to stoop for revenge which would mean he would have to reach into the pits of hell to do such a thing.
The last sentence of chapter 13 says that is looking for roots and herbs to concoct his medicine withal. The word concoct is a parallel to chapter six as to when Hester and Pearl are still considered witches.
What do you mean that Chillingsworth has "stooped to Hester's level"?
ReplyDeleteHester was once seen as a lowly person in this society. Chillingsworth has stooped to her level in society.
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