Chillingworth: A Symbol of Evil In Nathaniel Hawthorne's book The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne uses many literary tools to accomplish the points he's trying to make. Among these is his use of symbolism. He uses allegorical images as well as rich and figurative language to convey his messages about sin and the nature of the human self. For example, Dimmesdale represents the power of guily; Pearl, truth. One of the most efficient characters to carry his message is Roger Chillingworth. Roger Chillingworth symbolizes the self-destructive power of revenge, as well as in his aspect as the epitome of Puritan society...
monster. He is called "devil's adversary," "archfiend," and a demonic "bat" Hawthorne, 121, 146, 164. Yet, with his death, Chillingworth bequeaths his entire wealth to Pearl, the child whose birth had been the herald of his own demise. Perhaps this is Hawthorne's attempt at presenting the possible redemption of even the evilest of human souls.

The deformities of Chillingworth's body, mind and spirit crippled him. His own obsession with finding revenge against Dimmesdale killed him. Chillingworth was a symbol used by Nathaniel Hawthorne to represent the power of inherent evil as well as the self-destructiveness of obsession and revenge.