What is the nature of evil?

Question

Can it be considered "vengeance"?

I am supposed to write an essay on Roger Chillingworth from Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'The Scarlet Letter.'

I want my main focus (like the keyword to sum up my paper) to be "vengeance," but the prompt we were given is to "Describe the nature of evil that slowly consumes Chillingworth."

Would making my focal point Chillingworth's seek for vengeance be appropriate for this prompt? Like, can vengeance be considered that "nature of evil?"Thanks for any helpful input anybody has, I appreciate it!

Answer 1

It's letting any emotion or desire (such as for vengeance, but not exclusively) take us over so completely that we disregard normal human feelings for each other in its pursuit

Answer 2

A choice.. Plain and simple

find the moment in the story. Either in the characters background or otherwise that they make a choice. (one of bad intent)
Most stories formumatically have a distinct point the character has a bad experience where they make a choice. Then the ball is dropped and it rolls on into evil..

Answer 3

I did not read the book, but after thinking about your question I would say that evil is intentionally causing harm/suffering.

Answer 4

destruction