In order to answer this question, you have to keep in mind
some key details pertaining to each character. Dimmesdale, as you should know by now,
is the father of Hester's baby. Chillingworth, is of course, Hester's long lost husband
(Mr. Prynn). And most importantly, Hester is the only character who is fully aware of
all of these things.
Chillingworth
suspects Dimmesdale is Pearl's father from the very beginning. In
order to bring this secret to light, he has attached himself to the minister as a doctor
(or "leech"). He spends every day in close contact with this man, who is growing ever
weaker as a result of his guilty conscious and outward hypocrisy. Chillingworth plays
into both by making constant but casual reference to scientific and spiritual matters of
secrecy.
This conversation in chapter 10, is one such
reference. Dimmesdale, outside one day, questions Chillingworth about a strange looking
plant. Chillingworth explains that the dark leaves of this plant growing on an unmarked
tombstone are the sign of the buried's unconfessed sins. He is suggesting here, that
even if a person goes to the grave, unconfessed sins will find a way to show
themselves. Whether the story is true or not, Chillingworth here is making direct
reference to his suspicion that Dimmesdale has an unconfessed sin. He is attempting to
scare or warn the minister into confession.
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