Read Hester's description of Chillingworth carefully. How does she feel about him?

• A. She sees him as a misunderstood victim.
• B. She sees him as wicked; devilish; she hates him; he is foul, and she has strong vengeance.
• C. She admires his intellectual prowess and fairness.
• D. She regards him with cautious, neutral curiosity.

Answer: (B)

Hester’s view of Chillingworth is shaped by his relentless, vindictive nature. Hawthorne presents him as a calculating, almost diabolical figure whose true aim is revenge, masked by a calm, medical exterior. Hester senses this malign intent and responds with fear, moral repulsion, and anger; she hates him and feels the danger he represents to herself and Dimmesdale. She does not see him as a sympathetic or misunderstood husband, nor does she admire him or view him with neutral curiosity. Instead, she experiences him as a foul, devilish presence that darkens her life and fuels a powerful desire for vengeance.