The
meeting betweenandis a pivotal introductory scene in that the reader learns that the two were,
and still are, married, and that the child is obviously not his. Chillingworth is a doctor
called to tend to Hester and her child, and at first Hester fears he plans to harm her and her
child. Chillingworth has far worse ideas in mind, and the conversation soon turns to other
areas.
They begin by discussing the demise of their relationship.
Chillingworth admits to being an emotionally and physically absent husband and Hester admits to
marrying him without love:
Nay, from the moment when we
came down the old church-steps together, amarried pair, I might have beheld the bale-fire of
that scarlet letterblazing at the end of our path!"
Chillingworth, as the scorned husband, demands to know the identity of 's father.
Hester refuses, as she did on the scaffold. Chillingworth vows to discover his identity and take
revenge:
I shall see him tremble. I shall feel myself
shudder, suddenly and unawares. Sooner or later, he must needs be mine!
This conflict sets up the action for the remainder of the novel and
foreshadow's 's demise.
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