Minister's Black Veil Romanticism

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In American Literature romanticism connects the light and dark side of the human soul while emphasizing the mystery of human mortality. Nathaniel Hawthorne stories illustrate characters that are faced with moral dilemmas of good and evil. In “The Minister’s Black Veil” Hawthorne sets a theme of sin and guilt. “The Minister’s Black Veil” expresses romanticism in this theme by using strong emotion, the supernatural and ambiguity. The minister in the story compounds the emotion of guilt, humility, sin, emotional stability and trials of life. The black veil that is worn by the minister throughout the story is easy to focus on guilt. Prior to Mr. Hooper donning the black veil the congregation described him as "a good preacher, but not an energetic …show more content…
Simply by wearing the black veil “It’s [the veil's] gloom, indeed, enabled him to sympathize with all dark affections. Dying sinners cried aloud for Mr. Hooper, and would not yield their breath till he appeared; though ever, as he stooped to whisper consolation, they shuddered at the veiled face so near their own”. The inanimate object held no dark powers yet would be a weight carried by preacher as a symbol of sin and not just his own but everyone around him. The site of the man they had previously seen as “dressed with due clerical neatness” now dressed in a long black veil he was no longer accepted among his congregation. The veil strikes fear into all and causes dread to approach him. Mr. Hooper’s fiancé, Elizabeth, cannot marry him and must, until he is on his deathbed, love him in “secrecy” and “solitude.” The black veil “separated him from cheerful brotherhood and woman’s love.” The supernatural that lays with wearing the veil acknowledges the secrets of the heart and those who stand with the secrets are often ostracized and lead to be prisoners of their own
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