Compare Hester, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth in terms of their responses to the initial sin. In Chapter 14.

Hester: confesses her sin, accepts punishment, and moves beyond it to live her life.

Dimmesdale: allows his sin to consume him by hiding it deep inside. The pressure from keeping it secret destroys his health emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

Chillingworth: known as a leech, which carries many connotations; doctor, animalistic, blood-sucker. Lives for revenge.