This chapter answers the questions what the previous chapter left unanswered. For instance, the stranger who Hester sees amongst the crowd turns out to be no one but her very own Mr. Prynne. It’s a big shock for me because I wasn’t expecting Mr. Prynne to be revealed so soon and I honestly thought he wasn’t going to show up. I was rather hoping that her lover be revealed in this chapter, but that just keeps me more curious. Hawthorne in this chapter throws out a lot of information. Mr. Prynne is not himself and introduces himself as Roger Chillingworth physician. It makes sense why he does this because who would want to be associated with an adultress .This whole “interview” takes place in Hester’s cell. Where she comes face to face with her husband and they have the talk. I appreciate how Hester is so determined not to reveal her lover’s name. It just reflects her love towards him. Moreover the name Chillingworth sounds very cold and conniving, giving a detached feeling towards him. Hester’s doubt in the medicine he gives Pearl is justifiable because its possible that he may take revenge on the little girl for the wrong she has done to him. But then again his reply saying that he would give the same medicine to even his own child shows a delicate side towards Chillingworth .I can’t really form a strong opinion towards Chillingworth at the moment but his words just don’t give a positive feeling. I wonder till what extent he will go to find out the other man’s name. Also I like when Chillingworth realizes its his mistake in the first place that he let Hester go alone and didn’t follow up with her. Towards the end of his interview Chillingworth asks Hester to keep his true identity a secret and she agrees to it. At the same time reinforcing that she shall not reveal both the men’s identities.
“Between thee and me, the scale hangs fairly balanced. But Hester the man lives who has wronged us both! Who is he?
This is important because instead of lashing out at Hester, Chillingworth realizes that all is not her fault and that somewhere he is at fault too and its because of his careless actions she fell into this deep pit. Also his constant questioning to Hester about the other man depicts that he is well determined to get to the bottom of the whole matter at any cost.
“Between thee and me, the scale hangs fairly balanced. But Hester the man lives who has wronged us both! Who is he?
This is important because instead of lashing out at Hester, Chillingworth realizes that all is not her fault and that somewhere he is at fault too and its because of his careless actions she fell into this deep pit. Also his constant questioning to Hester about the other man depicts that he is well determined to get to the bottom of the whole matter at any cost.
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