Chapters (8) & 9: THE LEECH

"...Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale...was haunted by either Satan himself, or Satan's emissary, in the guise of old Roger Chillingsworth. This diabolical agent had the Divine permission, for a season, to burrow into the clergyman's intimacy, and plot against his soul. No sensible man, it was confessed, could doubt on which side the victory would turn. The people looked, with an unshaken hope, to see the minister come forth out of the conflict transfigured with the glory..." (pp. 117).

Roger Chillingsworth has been further revealed in this chapter in terms of his origins, purpose, and personality. In Chapter 9, he has been called in to help the weak Dimmesdale, and the text mentions that Chillingsworth has to get to know Dimmesdale before treating him. Why would that be so? Whatever is Chillingsworth 'reason,' he still goes through with it and appears to perform some type of black magic or witchcraft on him to try to get to his secrets. It is strange that the townspeople notice that Chillingsworth is a dark man, but Dimmesdale doesn't seem to notice. It might be possible that Chillingsworth knows that Dimmesdale might be the father, because it wouldn't make any other sense for him to try to go against him. At first, it was unclear as to why this chapter was titled 'The Leech,' but reading on, the reader realizes that Dimmesdale is pale and weak, and so since Chillingsworth was called in, he was probably going to treat him with leeches. However, Chillingsworth metaphorically is the leech--he is sucking out secrets from Dimmesdale and using them to avenge him, for whatever may be his reason. In Chapter 9, there is imagery and description to describe the setting and characters; moreover, Chillingsworth is described as a very unpleasing man in personality and aesthetically, and one actually begins to feel sympathy for Dimmesdale as opposed to Chillingsworth--he's doing good in trying to find out who is the man who "wronged" Hester and himself, so that he could be put up on the pedestal of shame, but based on the description, he is seen as a very, very evil man with no good intentions whatsoever. There is not much dialogue in this chapter, so it is focused more on the description and views of the omniscient narrator. But Roger Chillingsworth is a LEECH, and he needs someone to pour salt on him.

Questions:

1. Do you think that Chillingsworth knows Dimmesdale's 'secret'? Or why would he want to plot against him, and look into his secrets?
2. Who do you feel sympathy for? Dimmesdale or Chillingsworth?
3. What effect does the author convey through Rev. Dimmesdale's defense-speech/argument on behalf of Hester?