Chapter 9: The Leech

Chapter nine marks a definitive moment in the story. It is the point where the adulterer and the husband meet each other. Ironically, neither of them know each other’s secret. By the end of the chapter, Chillingworth discovers Dimmesdale’s secret. The change in Chillingworth’s expressions lack subtlety; so much he changes, that even the town sees his new dark complexion. His expression was “calm, meditative and scholar-like.” Now he has “something ugly and evil” (144). Chapter nine set the scene of the tension between the characters in the next chapter. The chapter builds their relationship so that one could call them friends. Now with the new information, they have become enemies. But the irony is, the minister does not know that they are enemies, thus, tension builds between the characters, only the tension is on one side of the rope.