After Hester Prynne's penalty and she returns to the prison, she cannot be calmed. The jailer, Master Brackett notices that the baby can't also be calmed. He believes that the baby is drinking Hester's depressed emotions from her milk. Brackett calls for a doctor and of course out of ironic circumstances the doctor is Chillingworth. In this chapter, Chillingworth's jealousy is greatly revealed:
“He bears no letter of infamy wrought into his garment, as thou dost; but I shall read it on his heart. Yet fear not for him! Think not that I shall interfere with Heaven’s own method of retribution, or, to my own loss, betray him to the gripe of human law. Neither do thou imagine that I shall contrive aught against his life, no, nor against his fame; if, as I judge, he be a man of fair repute. Let him live! Let him hide himself in outward honor, if he may! Not the less he shall be mine!”-Hawthorne
This creates a complication and the threat of affliction in the novel. It also leaves readers questioning to who the father might be. In a way, I feel pity for Chillingworth. He's a deformed, lonely man who let Hester Prynee into his life and heart only to be betrayed. Although I think he had it coming, leaving her alone for such a long time. Hester's feelings for Chillingworth were obvious:
"thou knowest that I was frank with thee. I felt no love, nor feigned any."-Hawthorne
“He bears no letter of infamy wrought into his garment, as thou dost; but I shall read it on his heart. Yet fear not for him! Think not that I shall interfere with Heaven’s own method of retribution, or, to my own loss, betray him to the gripe of human law. Neither do thou imagine that I shall contrive aught against his life, no, nor against his fame; if, as I judge, he be a man of fair repute. Let him live! Let him hide himself in outward honor, if he may! Not the less he shall be mine!”-Hawthorne
This creates a complication and the threat of affliction in the novel. It also leaves readers questioning to who the father might be. In a way, I feel pity for Chillingworth. He's a deformed, lonely man who let Hester Prynee into his life and heart only to be betrayed. Although I think he had it coming, leaving her alone for such a long time. Hester's feelings for Chillingworth were obvious:
"thou knowest that I was frank with thee. I felt no love, nor feigned any."-Hawthorne
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