Minister's Black Veil Meaning

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This analysis discusses “The Minister’s Black Veil” and the symbolic meaning behind it as well as the theme. The veil was used as a symbol in order to represent a deeper meaning which Hawthorne has intended to present to his readers. When reading the story, Hawthorne didn’t mention the veil being evil, nor said anything about it, but it is intended that way in order for the reader to try to find the deeper meaning of it while reading. Not only did the veil cause disruption amongst his town, but also realization which is seen at the end of it all.

In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story “The Minister’s Black Veil”, Hawthorne uses a black a veil as a symbol in the story in order to represent something much greater. In the short story, …show more content…
In The Minister's Black Veil there are romantic characteristics such as The inevitability of fate, the failure of human nature, the limitations of humanity, mystery and suspense, and the failure of human nature. The story also connects to American Romanticism because one of the main focuses is individual freedom because it forces an individual to be thinking for themselves. In the short story, Reverend Hooper chooses to wear a black veil over his face for the rest of his life in order to prove his point to his townspeople. In the end of the story when Mr. Hooper is lying on his deathbed, the people finally realize the meaning behind it. The veil was used to reflect the hidden sin and sorrow which he hid in himself. Overall, Mr. Hooper was not the only one hiding sin and sorrow from his peers, everyone hides it, but you are not always able to see …show more content…
A The symbolic meaning of the veil is that it hides one’s secrets and sorrow which they hold within themselves. The veil is used to symbolize what can be seen as a mask which covers who the person truly is behind all the sin and sorrow. Mr. Hooper argues that everyone around him is wearing a veil, but people fail to see it because they are too busy looking at the outer physical features rather than the ones that are hidden within a
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