Why is Chllingworth Called a “Leach” And later on Compared to a ‘Miner’?

Answer

Why is Chllingworth called a “leach” and later on compared to a ‘miner’? 

Or the negative role of Chillingworth in “The Scarlet Letter.”

Roger Chillingworth is the husband of Hester Prynne in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s (1804-1864) historical fiction  “The Scarlet Letter”. In the novel, he is often compared to “a leech” and “a miner” due to his aggressive and parasitic behaviour. He has versatile roles in the novel.

Chillingworth as a “leech“: Generally, in the 17th century, the word “leech” was used to describe physicians because leeches were used medically to suck blood from patients. However, the word “leech” has a double meaning in the novel. Here Chillingworth is portrayed as a physician and a “life sucker”. He disrupts Arthur Dimmesdale’s everyday life. Chillingworth’s relationship with Dimmesdale gradually becomes parasitic. He gradually destroys Dimmesdale’s mental vitality under the guise of medical care.

Chillingworth as a “Miner”:  A miner is a person who makes a living by extracting coal, salt, gold, and minerals from the ground. Hawthorne compares Chillingworth to a miner. The novelist says that Chillingworth “digs into the heart of the little priest”. Here, the novelist mentions how a labourer digs the ground to discover a gold mine. Similarly, Chillingworth is determined to expose Dimmesdale’s hidden crimes. He magnifies Dimmesdale’s underlying fear and pain. As a prospector saves gold by destroying the mine, Chillingworth becomes the saver of Hester’s life and the destroyer of Dimmesdale’s, so he has been compared to the miner.

Finally, we can say that it is right to call Roger Chillingworth a “leech” because, as a physician, he exploits Dimmesdale’s trust, increases his suffering, and makes his life miserable. He also digs into Dimmesdale’s heart and soul as a “miner” to uncover his hidden guilt.