An Analysis of
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THE INTERVIEW
An Analysis of Chapter 4
Tone
The Tone Is Dark, Tense, And Mysterious, With An Undercurrent Of Malevolence.
Basic Stats
| Intensity | Clarity | Conflict | Resolution | Pacing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thrilling - (4) | Clear - (4) | Hostile - (4) | A little - (2) | Moderate - (3) |
Basically...
Hester Prynne, after returning to prison, is visited by the physician Roger Chillingworth, who turns out to be her long-lost husband. He treats her and the child and makes Hester promise not to reveal his true identity to anyone, while vowing to find and deal with Hester's unnamed lover himself.
In more detail...
Chapter four takes place in the prison where Hester Prynne is closely watched due to her agitated state. Unable to calm her, the jailer brings in a physician, who is revealed to be Hester's presumed-dead husband. He has adopted the name Roger Chillingworth and agrees to treat Hester and her infant, who has been affected by Hester's distress. Chillingworth administers a potion to the baby, easing its pain, and then gives Hester a mixture intended to calm her as well. Throughout their encounter, Chillingworth's demeanor is enigmatic, and his familiarity with Hester belies a deeper connection. He presses Hester for the identity of her lover, which she refuses to reveal. Chillingworth then asks her to conceal his own identity and swears vengeance on her lover. Despite his actions to aid Hester and her child, his ominous tone suggests malevolent intentions.
Characters
- Hester Prynne
- About - In this chapter, Hester displays anxiety and fear, especially regarding the safety of her child and her own fate. She confronts her husband but also steadfastly keeps the identity of her lover secret. Despite her trepidation, Hester remains strong-willed and protective of her child.
- Personality Traits - Hester is shown to be resourceful, proud, and remarkably strong beneath her vulnerable exterior.
- Physical Characteristics - Hester is a beautiful woman characterized by her dignified manner, even when marked with the scarlet letter 'A'.
- Character Connections
- Infant - Hester's child, whom she is trying to protect and for whom she shows deep care.
- Roger Chillingworth - Hester's estranged husband, whom she meets again in the prison.
- Roger Chillingworth
- About - Chillingworth, introduced as a physician, reveals himself to be Hester's husband. Obscured by his new identity after being held captive by Native Americans, he arrives in Boston and encounters Hester's disgrace. He is knowledgeable and exhibits a cold, calculating demeanor.
- Personality Traits - Chillingworth is portrayed as methodical, intelligent, and composed, with a sinister undertone to his calculated interactions with Hester.
- Physical Characteristics - He is described as having a singular aspect and is presumably older, with a demeanor typical of a scholar.
- Character Connections
- Hester Prynne - His wife, whose secret he seeks to keep while plotting against her unseen lover.
- Infant - Indirectly connected as the infant of his wife, Hester, and the product of her adulterous affair.
- Infant
- About - Hester's infant appears in this chapter as a sufferer of both physical ailment and her mother's emotional turmoil. The baby's pain and subsequent calming become a focal point that catalyzes the interaction between Hester and Chillingworth.
- Personality Traits - The infant's personality is not yet developed, but its vulnerability and suffering are poignant in the chapter.
- Physical Characteristics - The child is in a distressful state, writhing in pain due to its exposure to Hester's emotional distress.
- Character Connections
- Hester Prynne - The infant is Hester's daughter and the most immediate reason for her emotional turmoil.
- Roger Chillingworth - Chillingworth tends to the infant, providing relief from its suffering, but with no personal paternal affection.
- Master Brackett
- About - Master Brackett, the jailer, appears briefly in this chapter as the one who introduces Chillingworth to Hester with the intention of calming her.
- Personality Traits - He is practical and concerned with maintaining order in his jail.
- Physical Characteristics - Physical characteristics are not detailed in this chapter.
- Character Connections
- Hester Prynne - He oversees Hester's imprisonment and seeks to maintain order by bringing in Chillingworth.
- Roger Chillingworth - He introduces Chillingworth to Hester as a physician to help calm her.