Roger Chillingworth

Mr. Prynne had been an intellectual, a scholar, who loved Hester dearly and convinced her that she would be happy by his side, despite the fact that she was young and he was so old. When he returns after a two-year absence to discover her adultery, however, he decides to keep his identity a secret from the townspeople so he can sniff out the man who led Hester astray.

Assuming the identity of Roger Chillingworth, a physician, Hester’s husband ingratiates himself with Boston’s elite and its leadership. He is quick to discern that Dimmesdale has a secret, and he makes it his life’s goal to hover near the minister, exacerbating Dimmesdale’s secret shame to the point that Dimmesdale suffers real physical distress. Chillingworth’s evil intentions twist his own soul. He changes from a kindly old man into a devil. There is, perhaps, some evidence that he redeems himself when he leaves all of his money to Pearl upon his death.