Final answer:
Chillingworth believes he has a double reason for punishing Dimmesdale: vengeance and inner guilt.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chillingworth believes he has a double reason for punishing Dimmesdale in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter.
- Vengeance: Chillingworth wants revenge on Dimmesdale because he believes that Dimmesdale is responsible for the dishonor and betrayal that his wife, Hester Prynne, brought upon him.
- Inner guilt: Chillingworth also punishes Dimmesdale as a way to alleviate his own guilt and inner torment. By tormenting Dimmesdale, Chillingworth can deflect attention from his own sins and gain a sense of power and control.
These dual motives drive Chillingworth's actions in the novel, as he becomes consumed by his desire for revenge and his own psychological turmoil.