William Shakesphere's - Othello & Nathathiel Hawthorne's - The Scarlett Letter
Characters motivated by malice are often very attractive and captivate the reader's attention. Iago and Roger Chillingsworth are two such characters. Both are entirely taken up with their relationship with their master and both seek to bring about their master's downfall.
Chillingsworth in The Scarlett Letter is completely obssessed with finding out the identity of Hester's lover and focuses his attention on Dimmesdale as his principal suspect. His main method of discovering the information he needs is to observe Dimmesdale closely, insidiously working himself into Dimmesdale's household and becoming his constant companion. "The strong interest the physician ever manifested in the young clergyman; he attached himself to him [the Minister]" (p125).
Chillingworth's profession as a physician makes achieving this easier. He is held in high esteem by the community and when Dimmesdale becomes ill, Chillingsworth, "a man of skill" (p124) is considered to be the only hope to heal the Minister. Thus Chillingsworth has an excuse for being beside Dimmesdale continually, giving him opportunity to observe the Minister closely without suspicion. Because of Chillingsworth's position in Dimmesdale's household, he can scrutinise "his patient carefully"(p127), closely observing "every ebb and flow of the minister's life-tide" (p128-129).
Unlike Chillingsworth, Iago does not have to work so hard to reach a position of trust with Othello. Iago's job as Ancient ensured that he was with Othello for the majority of the time. Thus he is already established in a high position of trust, and he earnt this due to his work and previous acts of loyalty. "He in good time must his Lieutenant be, and I - God bless the mark! - his Moorship's Ancient." (I.i.32-33)
Othello believed Iago to be honest and loyal "Honest Iago"(II.iii.170), "Iago is most honest"(II.iii.7) and "I know thou'rt full of love and honesty"(III.iii.16-17). Othello is fooled by Iago right to the end, which also happens to Dimmesdale until it was revealed to him. Even though Dimmesdale believed in "trusting no man as his friend," (p134) he fell for Chillingsworth because "he could not recognize his enemy when the later [Chillingsworth] actually appeared"(p134).
Both Iago and Chillingsworth use their positions of trust to gain intimacy so they could destroy Othello and Dimmesdale respectively. Iago himself said " I follow him to serve my turn upon him."(I.i.42) and "in following him, I follow but myself."(I.I.59) Chillingsworth felt the same way towards Dimmesdale. Both Iago and Chillingsworth are prepared to serve, but only to benefit themselves, in this case seeking revenge.
Throughout The Scarlet Letter even though Chillingsworth is a respected physician, he is fiend-like and relentless in persecuting Dimmesdale with questions and suggestions that he is in some way connected to Hester, and the sin she committed. Chillingsworth, is less interested in performing the task of a physician, than in looking for more evidence against Dimmesdale. "Not only the disease interested the physician, but he was strongly moved to look into the character and qualities of the patient."(p126) Because of Chillingsworth's desire to learn more about Dimmesdale, he "dug into the poor clergyman's heart.....in quest of a jewel that had been buried on the dead man's bosom."(p133) He begins to question Dimmesdale as to whether the illness he is suffering is actually physical or spiritual. "A bodily disease, which we look upon as whole and entire within itself, may, after all, be but a symptom of some ailment in the spiritual part."(p141) Every time Chillingsworth suggests that Dimmesdale's symptoms may arise from a spiritual rather than a physical cause, he has an opportunity to observe Dimmesdale's reaction to this. It is that Chillingsworth uses his position as a doctor, to increase Dimmesdale's suffering. A doctor is supposed to heal rather than destroy. Similarly, Iago abuses his position of loyalty as Othello's Ancient to undermine and destroy his superior.
Iago in some ways had a better opportunity to observe Othello and see exactly what makes him "tick". Iago has this opportunity simply because his job as Ancient requires him to be close to Othello, he did not have to manoeuvre himself into this position.
Throughout Othello, Iago is strategic, in his timing. He plots carefully and does not procrastinate; especially when it comes to revenge. Iago has the opportunity to develop these qualities because he knows Othello so well and knows how to manipulate the circumstances to have revenge on Othello. Chillingsworth and Iago both observe their prey before making any moves. However, Chillingsworth is firstly required to find out more about his suspect by asking additional questions.
After lengthy observation of Dimmesdale, Chillingsworth becomes increasingly confident that Dimmesdale is Pearl's father. When Hester was pleading to keep Pearl, Dimmesdale also pleaded her case saying that she should be allowed to keep her child. Chillingsworth, always being present wherever Dimmesdale was, heard this and commented "you speak my friend, with a strange earnestness."(p117)
On yet another occasion, Chillingsworth spoke to Dimmesdale saying "Would you therefore, that your physician heal the bodily evil? How may this be, unless you firstly lay open to him the wound or trouble in your soul?".(p141) Chillingsworth points out that he cannot heal the soul, only the body. Dimmesdale becomes upset, and Chillingsworth reasons that if it is not true, what other reason could there be to upset Dimmesdale.
The suspicions aroused in Chillingsworth eventually prompt him to seek conclusive proof. One day he takes his opportunity as the Minister sleeps,
The doctor discovers on Dimmesdale's chest, a scarlet letter `A' on seeing this, Chillingsworth is convinced that Dimmesdale was Hester's lover.
Roger Chillingsworth, uses many methods and strategies to work on Dimmesdale's conscience. Eventually, both men know the truth about Dimmesdale's relationship with Hester, but Dimmesdale does not openly confess his involvement with her, despite Dimmesdale's best efforts.
Chillingsworth insinuates he knows Dimmesdale's secret and both prompts and tortures him to confess
[The weeds] "grew out of his [a dead man's] heart, and typify, it may be some hideous secret that was buried with him, and which he had done better to confess." (p135) "These black weeds have sprung up out of a buried heart to make manifest an unspoken crime." (p135)
Chillingsworth continues the conversation in a similar matter suggesting that spiritual secrets should be told. Chillingsworth even targets Dimmesdale in saying that people who serve God and have sin in their hearts (obviously meaning Dimmesdale) are really just being hypocrites. This along with other insinuations upset Dimmesdale and he quickly leaves the room. "Chillingsworth.....devoted himself for seven years, to the constant analysis of a heart full of torture, and deriving his enjoyment thence, and adding fuel to those fiery tortures which he analyzed and gloated over." (p177)
Dimmesdale is tortured by Chillingsworth and therefore suffered, both mental and physical deterioration. It can be seen that Chillingsworth performed the mental torture, but Dimmesdale physically tortured himself. "His inward trouble drove him to practices more in accordance with the old, corrupted faith of Rome, than with the better light of the church in which he had been born and bred. In Mr Dimmesdale's secret closet, under lock and key, there was a bloody scourge." (p149-150)
In contrast, Iago often got other characters to assist him in torturing Othello. The first seed of doubt is planted in Othello's mind when he says "Ha! I like not that." (III.iii.35) This is when Iago begin tempting Othello. In Act three, scene three Iago continues to play Othello along like a puppet. Iago plays "hard to get" and pretends he does not want to state what he was thinking about Michael Cassio. Of course Othello wants to know what is on his mind and pursues Iago to explain the reason for his questions. For example,
Iago: "Did Michael Cassio,when you wooed my lady, know of your love?
Othello: He did, from first to last. Why doest thou ask?
Iago: But for satisfaction of my thought - No further harm.
Othello Why of thy thought, Iago?" (III.iii.95-99)
Iago uses several strategies to entrap Othello in jealousy. He hints by insinuation throughout the whole play that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair while pretending to be unwilling to comment on account of his "friendship" with Cassio. Iago even says "As I confess it is my nature's plague/To spy into abuses, and of my jealousy/Shapes faults that are not." (III.iii.147)
Iago spoke of "the green-eyed monster, which doth mock/The meat it feeds on."(III.iii.164-165) Iago while speaking of jealousy is trying to cause Othello himself to become jealous.
It is interesting to compare the difference between these two characters, in that Iago actually constructs lies while he is pretending to reveal them. While, Chillingsworth's goal is to reveal or discover what already exists.
Iago continues to strategically plant more seeds of doubt. This is done by suggesting that Desdemona had turned down better men than Othello and yet, she married him. Iago adds fuel to the fire when he expresses his worry that Desdemona may realise her mistake in marrying Othello.
Iago also mentions the fact that Desdemona had tricked her father and married Othello, so why would not she be clever enough to fool Othello and have an affair with Cassio.
These seeds result in Othello to becoming increasingly suspicious. Iago makes the current situation worse by saying he saw Cassio with Desdemona's handkerchief when actually Iago planted the evidence on Cassio. "I know not that: but such a handkerchief-/I am sure it was your wife's - did I today/See Cassio wipe his beard with. (III.iii.434-436)
By Iago planting seeds of doubt and hinting at possibilities that did not even exist, Othello is led to grow increasingly suspicious of Desdemona, and as a result jealousy arises in Othello, which led to his mental deterioration and he is no longer capable of thinking clearly or rationally.
Chillingsworth and Iago chose different methods of destroying their masters. Iago simply left suggestions, hints, planted seeds and pretended he was being loyal while pretending to help Othello, whereas Chillingsworth simply bombarded the minister and drove him to punish himself physically. The different methods that were used to destroy these people affected the way in which they died.
Chillingsworth drained his patient of all nerve, will and physical energy. "Roger Chillingsworth, the secret poison of his malignity, infecting all the air about him, and his authorized interference, as a physician, with the minister's physical and spiritual infirmities, and that these bad opportunities had been turned to a cruel purpose."(p203) Because of this Dimmesdale no longer could handle the mental torture and revealed his sin. His confession, was the only thing that saved him from Chillingsworth's revenge. "Chillingsworth knelt down beside him......[and said] 'Thou hast escaped me!'"(p269) Chillingsworth repeated this more than once. By saying "Thou hast escaped me," Chillingsworth must have assumed that Dimmesdale died with a clean heart, because revenge was the whole reason Chillingsworth lived.
Due to Chillingsworth having failed in successfully getting revenge. "The change which took place, almost immediately after Mr Dimmesdale's death, in the appearance and demeanor of.....Roger Chillingsworth. All his strength and energy......seemed to desert him; insomuch that he positively withered up, shrivelled away and almost vanished from mortal sight." (p273)
Both Othello and The Scarlet Letter end in tragedy by the death of both innocent and guilty characters. Othello and Dimmesdale were two characters who were seen as something great yet, it is most likely that it was this that caused their death.
Othello only ever suspected that Cassio and Desdemona had committed adultery, however in Dimmesdale's case the deed was already done and therefore the stories also both begin on a different footing. There is also the difference to be pointed out between the death of innocent people. In Othello, Emilia and Desdemona are innocent throughout the entire play, yet, Iago's cunningness draw's these and others into his plot. Iago's revenge is thus immediate and has a far wider range and effect.
The Scarlet Letter on the other hand involves only those closely associated with the situation to be involved and even though the effect of the revenge is damaging, it is on a far smaller scale.
To a certain extent both Iago and Roger Chillingsworth are successful in their mission of revenge. Chillingsworth did have revenge on Dimmesdale, however not perhaps the way he had intended it .
Iago was definitely successful in his revenge. He causes the death of all the virtuous characters in the play, while attempting to advance his position and revenge himself upon Othello. However, the price he himself pays is not insignificant.
Roger Chillingsworth and Iago began in similar situations, which was motivated, at least initially by a past wrong.
Their actions resulted in misery not only for their intended victims, but for themselves.
B I B L I O G R A P H Y
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. Soho Square, London: Bloomsbury, 1995.
Muir, Kenneth(ed). Othello. Ringwood, Vic: Penguin Books, 1968.
Some Interesting Links on The Scarlet Letter & Othello
Related Resources to The Scarlet Letter
Eldritch Press
Nathaniel Hawthorne & the Unpardonable Sin
Othello the play
Ashley's Cliff Notes
Othello and Romeo
The Above music is courtesy of Nonny