After hearing about Hester Prynne’s adultery, Chillingworth makes his sole purpose to find the man who wronged him: “I shall seek this man. […] I shall see him tremble. […] He must needs be mine” (70). Once Chillingworth finds out Hester cheated on him with Dimmesdale, he decides the best way to seek revenge on Dimmesdale is to kill him slowly. As Chillingworth carries out his plan, he transforms into the Devil, finding pleasure in Dimmesdale’s suffering. While Chillingworth is positive he will get his revenge, Dimmesdale’s courage strengthens with Hester’s help. Fortunately, Dimmesdale confesses his sin to his followers, leaving Chillingworth displeased: “Thou hast escaped me!” (228). Chillingworth was unable to absolve his sin and the evil in his heart remained forever. He ended up being the one to suffer in the end.
Chillingworth, like a leech, sucked the life out of Dimmesdale. Chillingworth lived off of Dimmesdale’s suffering, just like a leech lives off its prey. Chillingworth’s sole purpose was to seek revenge on Dimmesdale. A leech’s sole purpose is to suck blood. When Dimmesdale died, Chillingworth’s purpose disappeared, leaving him nothing to feed off of. Likewise, a leech has nothing to keep itself alive without the blood of its victim. Without Dimmesdale around, Chillingworth lost all his nourishment and withered to death like a leech that lost its source of survival. There was no purpose left for Chillingworth like there is none when a leech has no blood to suck.
Chillingworth is like a school bully who finds pleasure in tormenting people.
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