The Scarlet Letter Literary An

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works. Hawthorne’s dislike of men of science is also evident in many of his texts, like “Rappaccini’s Daughter” and “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment”. In both these stories a man of science, either Rappaccini or Dr. Heidegger, represent some form of evil. In the story, many references are made to the Black Man’s book. In “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” the information about the magic water came from Dr. Heidegger’s black book with large clasps. Roger Chillingworth is in possession of a large leather bound book with clasps. He uses it to reference herbs and plants that he collects in the forest, in order to create medicines which he administers. The black man in the forest is yet another sinister figure who carries a black leather book with clasps. He frequents the forest at night and has people sign their souls away in the aforementioned book. Hawthorne implies that Chillingworth is the Black Man throughout the novel ...

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and the application of black magic. The Black Man, like Chillingworth, possessed supernatural powers that were used to spread evil.
Hester and Dimmesdale have both signed the Black Man’s book, each in their own way. When Roger goes to interview Hester in jail, she refuses to tell him who her fellow adulterer is. Chillingworth says he partly blames himself, for leaving her unbeknownst of his whereabouts for several years, but that he will seek vengeance on her partner. He vows not to reveal the sinner to the public, or to mame the sinner, but to torment him for the rest of his life. Hester responds, “Thy acts are like those of mercy, but thy words interpret thee as a ...

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