![]() ![]() It should be noted that Dimmesdale articulates his justification for his silence, but, in the face of Chillingworth's diabolical logic and questioning intended to manipulate the minister into a confession of his sin, Dimmesdale breaks off the colloquy. Clearly, the struggle within his soul is destroying him, as evidenced by his physical appearance and his mental anguish, yet he still cannot confess his role in the adulterous affair with Hester. The reader is also given the best insight yet into the nature of Dimmesdale's tortured battle with himself. This chapter allows the reader to witness Chillingworth's evil determination to accomplish his revenge on and to increase the painful inner suffering of young Arthur Dimmesdale. What he sees there causes "a wild look of wonder, joy, and horror," and he does a spontaneous dance of ecstasy. Pulling aside the minister's vestment, he stares at the clergyman's chest. One day, not long afterward, Chillingworth finds Dimmesdale asleep in a chair. When Chillingworth renews his probing of Dimmesdale's conscience, suggesting that he can never cure Dimmesdale as long as the minister conceals anything, the minister says that his sickness is a "sickness of the soul" and passionately cries out that he will not reveal his secret to "an earthly physician." Dimmesdale rushes from the room, and Chillingworth smiles at his success. Watching Hester and Pearl depart, Dimmesdale agrees with Chillingworth that Hester is better off with her sin publicly displayed than she would be with it concealed. They comment on Pearl's strange behavior and then return to their discussion. One day in Chillingworth's study, they are interrupted in their earnest discussion by Pearl and Hester's voices outside in the graveyard. ![]() Most of Chapter 10 concerns the pulling and tugging by Chillingworth at the heart and soul of Dimmesdale. ![]() He is frequently discouraged in his attempts to pry loose Dimmesdale's secret, but he always returns to his "digging" with all his intelligence and passion. Adopting the attitude of a judge seeking truth and justice, he quickly becomes fiercely obsessed by his search into Dimmesdale's heart. In this and the next few chapters, Chillingworth investigates the identity of Pearl's father for the sole purpose of taking revenge. ![]()
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