# Roger Chillingworth — The Scarlet Letter character guide > Roger Chillingworth in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. **Role:** major **Also known as:** old Roger Chillingworth, Old Roger Chillingworth, the mysterious old Roger Chillingworth, Roger, the stranger **First appearance:** 0005-iii-the-recognition ## Who they are A learned physician who arrives in Boston and insinuates himself into the minister's confidence, his cold curiosity masking a deeper and more terrible purpose. ## Relationships ### [Satan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters/satan) _psychological_ Chillingworth is described as a devilish figure, consumed by revenge and manipulation. ### [Hester Prynne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters/hester_prynne) _rivalry_ Hester is trapped in a cold, vengeful marriage with Chillingworth, who seeks to destroy her lover. ### [Arthur Dimmesdale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters/arthur_dimmesdale) _psychological_ Chillingworth psychologically tortures Dimmesdale as his physician and secret enemy. ### [Pearl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters/pearl) _rivalry_ Pearl instinctively distrusts and avoids Chillingworth, sensing his malevolent nature. ### [Governor Bellingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters/governor_bellingham) _social_ Bellingham respects Chillingworth as a learned physician and fellow authority figure. ### [Satan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters/satan) _psychological_ Chillingworth is described as a devilish figure, consumed by revenge and manipulation. ### [Pearl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters/pearl) _rivalry_ Pearl instinctively distrusts and avoids Chillingworth, sensing his malevolent nature. ### [Hester Prynne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters/hester_prynne) _rivalry_ Hester is trapped in a cold, vengeful marriage with Chillingworth, who seeks to destroy her lover. ### [Hester Prynne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters/hester_prynne) _rivalry_ Hester is trapped in a cold, vengeful marriage with Chillingworth, who seeks to destroy her lover. ### [Arthur Dimmesdale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters/arthur_dimmesdale) _psychological_ Chillingworth psychologically tortures Dimmesdale as his physician and secret enemy. ### [Arthur Dimmesdale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters/arthur_dimmesdale) _psychological_ Chillingworth psychologically tortures Dimmesdale as his physician and secret enemy. ### [Governor Bellingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters/governor_bellingham) _social_ Bellingham respects Chillingworth as a learned physician and fellow authority figure. ## In the story ### [The Scarlet Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/the-scarlet-letter) Hester's long-absent husband, who arrives in the crowd and later visits her in prison, demanding the name of her lover. ### [The Recognition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/iii-the-recognition) Appears in the crowd disguised in mixed attire, recognizes Hester, and signals her to keep his identity secret. ### [IV: The Interview](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/iv-the-interview) Introduced as a physician called to treat Hester and the child. He is revealed to be Hester's husband, who has been living among Native Americans. He vows to discover Hester's lover and exact a subtle revenge, forcing Hester to swear secrecy about his identity. ### [The Governor's Hall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/vii-the-governor-s-hall) Mentioned as a 'leech' (physician) present in the governor's house during Hester's visit. ### [VIII: The Elf-Child and the Minister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/viii-the-elf-child-and-the-minister) Observes the proceedings with a smile, and Hester notes his increasingly ugly and misshapen appearance. ### [IX: The Leech](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/ix-the-leech) Assumes the role of physician, concealing his past identity and purposefully befriending Dimmesdale to uncover his secret. ### [X: The Leech and His Patient](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/x-the-leech-and-his-patient) Transforms from a calm, upright man into a vengeful, almost demonic figure as he digs into Dimmesdale's heart. He discovers the mark on Dimmesdale's chest, confirming his secret. ### [The Interior of a Heart](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xi-the-interior-of-a-heart) Chillingworth has become a master manipulator, using his knowledge of Dimmesdale's secret to torment him psychologically. He takes a perverse satisfaction in his revenge. ### [The Minister's Vigil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xii-the-minister-s-vigil) Observes Dimmesdale from the shadows, then approaches and escorts him home, revealing his malevolent control. ### [Another View of Hester](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xiii-another-view-of-hester) Though not directly present, Chillingworth is implied as the 'instinctively discovered enemy' who has been operating a 'terrible machinery' against Dimmesdale's well-being. ### [XIV: Hester and the Physician](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xiv-hester-and-the-physician) Reveals his transformation into a fiend through seven years of revenge, admits to torturing Dimmesdale, and refuses Hester's plea for forgiveness. ### [Hester and Pearl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xv-hester-and-pearl) Chillingworth departs after speaking with Hester, gathering herbs; Hester views him with hatred and suspicion. ### [XVI: A Forest Walk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xvi-a-forest-walk) Referenced as the man whose true character Hester plans to reveal. ### [XVII: The Pastor and His Parishioner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xvii-the-pastor-and-his-parishioner) Chillingworth is discussed as Hester's husband and the source of Dimmesdale's torment, though he does not appear in the chapter. ### [The Minister in a Maze](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xx-the-minister-in-a-maze) Visits Dimmesdale in his study, offering medicine and inquiring about his health; Dimmesdale refuses the remedy. ### [The New England Holiday](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xxi-the-new-england-holiday) Chillingworth is seen in the marketplace talking familiarly with the commander of a ship from the Spanish Main, indicating his ongoing involvement in the plot. ### [XXIII: The Revelation of the Scarlet Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xxiii-the-revelation-of-the-scarlet-letter) Kneels beside Dimmesdale, defeated, repeating 'Thou hast escaped me!' ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xxiv-conclusion) Dies within a year of Dimmesdale's death, having lost all vitality after his revenge is complete; bequeaths his property to Pearl. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters/roger_chillingworth - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters