"momentswhich" - 1 õppematerjal

American Literature

Revenge for the betrayal of Hester is the driving force in his life. The actual torture he inflicts is purely mental, and is successful in breaking Dimmesdale's body and soul down. During one instance Chillingworth sees what he has become "The unfortunate physician, while uttering these words, lifted his hands with a look of horror, as if he had beheld some frightful shape, which he could not recognize, usurping the place of his own image in a glass. IT was on of those momentswhich sometimes occur only in the interval of yearwhen a man's moral aspect is faithfully revealed to his mind's eye. Not improbably he had never viewed himself as he did now."(Hawthorne 118) He sees just how far evil he has become, but still Chillingworth continues his vengeful work.The Puritan society itself was a lesson in hypocrisy. Supposedly, they were firm believers in the Bible, but the Bible advocates forgiveness and toleration. The whole society's basis was on religious enlightenment