Chillingworth or Dimmesdale?

     It is rather difficult to say whether I sympathize Roger Chillingworth or Mr. Dimmesdale, because both are going through a lot of emotional and psychological issues throughout the story. Hester Prynne caused pain to Chillingworth by cheating on him and committing a sin, but he eventually got over it and moved on. Dimmesdale, on the other hand, has to live with his guilt because unlike Hester, he did not go open to public humiliation and judgement. In this case, I sympathize with Mr. Dimmesdale because of the emotional stress he has to deal with for nearly seven years. A great quote to describe my sympathy can be, "Let the black flower blossom as it may! Now go thy ways, and deal as thou wilt with yonder man" (Hawthorne 149). In this quote, Chillingworth basically tells Hester that Dimmesdale is a black flower, he is holding guilt inside of him. Unlike her letter, his is outside and no one can see it. In order to get away from his guilt, he has to reveal it to the public. Hester should do anything she can to feel better so that she will not feel sick and tired like Dimmesdale from his guilt.