The Scarlet Letter- Dimmesdale's weakness

"But with what a wild look of wonder, joy, and horror! With what a ghastly rapture, as it were, too mighty to be expressed only by the eye and features, and therefore bursting forth through the whole ugliness of his features, and therefore bursting forth through the whole ugliness of his figure, and making itself even riotously manifest by the extravagant gestures with which he thew up his arms towards the ceiling, and stamped his foot upon the floor!" (page 106)

Chapters 9 and 10 show a relationship forming between Dimmesdale and Chillingworth. Throughout these chapters, information on both character is made known to the readers. Most importantly, Dimmesdale's internal and external suffering is made known. To Chillingworth, Dimmesdale's behavior and reasoning causes him to be suspicious and he begins to raise questions. While Dimmesdale is asleep, Chillingworth sneaks up to Dimmesdale and pushes aside the shirt that Dimmesdale is wearing. What he sees on Dimmesdale’s chest causes the doctor to rejoice. It is unknown to the reader as to what Chillingworth is responding to. As a reader, one can infer that Dimmesdale and his external and internal sufferings are linked together. Chillingworth has begun to decipher what is the root of his sufferings. As a reader, we can speculate that it has to do with Hester as well and Dimmesdale could possibly be the father of Pearl. The reader is left at the edge of their seat by the end of chapter 10.