On this chapter, Hester and the
Physician, Hester was out in the seaside when she finally meets
Chillingworth, and dares to confront him about his treatment of
Dimmesdale.
She requested him that, for his own sake, he
should just leave Dimmesdale alone and allow for fate to take care of whatever
punishment (further punishment) the man should
receive.
This, of course, was not an option for
Chillingworth, whose hatred for Dimmesdale was outrageous. Therefore, Hester told him
that she will expose him to Dimmesdale so that Dimmesdale can protect himself from
him.
The quote "Ye that hath wronged me...." is
Chillingworth's way of telling Hester "what is done is done, and had to be done because
it is our fate". He realizes that he, who once was a learned and good man had been
chosen by fate to endure what Hester did to him. Equally, Hester was elected by
"providence" and bad luck to be tempted by Dimmesdale, and Dimmesdale weak nature
tempted Hester.
That is the black flower that he is
referring to: Their fates were already pre-destined (as it is commonly believed by
Puritan and Calvinists of that period) and hence all that was taking place was meant to
happen. Hence, he had no power to stop it.
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