Sin In The Minister's Black Veil

Words: 637
Pages: 3
Open Document
Sin can appear in many forms, and no one is immune. Sin has been a topic for art and literature for as long as it has been a concept. In “The Minister’s Black Veil”, Hawthorne uses symbolism and metaphors to question our perception of sin. The black veil is a metaphor for sin and the minister represents impossible purity. The congregation and town’s reaction to the minister having possible sins displays unattainable expectations and cultural judgment to the taboos of sin. The topic of sin manifests itself in many forms, both in literature and in life. The variances are as individual as the person defining the sin. In “The Minister’s Black Veil” Hawthorne uses “the good Parson Hooper” as an example of what happens when those considered pious …show more content…
Upon seeing the veiled minister, his congregation immediately thinks “our parson has gone mad” (Hawthorne 390). The town immediately jumps to judgement with “indecorous confusion” and “pent-up amazement” at the sight of the veil and the minister’s possible impurities (Hawthorne 391). The town decides that the black veil represents guilt and shame, something they fear in their spiritual leader. The people forget that they themselves are sinners, and instead of reflecting on their own sins, they attempt to “penetrate the mystery” of the veil (Hawthorne 391). Hawthorne is suggesting that the “busy-bodies and impertinent people in the parish” are judgmental instead of reading the moral of the veil (Hawthorne 393). In “The Minister’s Black Veil”, Hawthorne portrays the biased in judgment placed on sin and those considered sinless. He shows a minister abstractly admitting sin and his congregation’s reaction to his statement. No one is without sin even those deemed holy or worthy of sharing the word of God and often judgement follows sin. The symbolism is moral to us all, whether we identify with the congregation or the minister. Emmett believes that sin is both individual and a cultural universal. The story uses metaphors and symbolism to
Show More

Related Documents: Sin In The Minister's Black Veil

Sin In The Minister's Black Veil By Nathaniel Hawthorne

much does sin affect people? To most it is a fleeting thought in one’s mind that is consistent, yet not urgent. For some it has no affect at all, and others to the point it would cause someone to gouge out an eye. In “The Minister’s Black Veil” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, sin is what drives Mr. Hooper to wear a black veil over his face for the rest of his life. This is the extreme Mr. Hooper is willing to go because of sin. To Mr. Hooper this veil represents sin. Mr. Hooper wears the veil to create a…

Words 1041 - Pages 5

The Minister's Black Veil Essay

In “The Minister’s Black Veil,” the author implies that all of mankind has secret sins even though some pretend to have no regrets or wrongdoings. Mr. Hooper, a well-known and respected minister, decides to wear a black veil that causes discomfort to those around him. The small article of clothing forces bystanders to confront their own wrongdoings and causes Mr. Hooper to be outcasted from society. After living a lonely life, the minister lectures onlookers about shunning him for his sins while they…

Words 1179 - Pages 5

What Does The Veil Symbolize In The Minister's Black Veil

The Black Veil “There was but one thing remarkable in his appearance” (266). Nathaniel Hawthorne in “The Minister’s Black Veil” uses a veil to symbolize death and sin. Mr. Hooper, the preacher in Milford, comes wearing a black veil across his face at a Sunday sermon. Hawthorne hopes to have the reader understand that death and sin affects all. The congregation of the church are captivated by the veil and it is hard to keep from looking at. By using the black veil as a symbol for death, Hawthorne…

Words 452 - Pages 2

The Scarlet Essay

2014 Alienation Within a Veil All people struggle, some more than others, but everyone struggles. People’s journeys vary. It is how they choose to carry their burdens that make them the men and women they become. Some falter; others shine. Sometimes, people feel broken. When this happens, they often feel like they have to hide themselves from the world. In the “Minister’s Black Veil,” Nathanial Hawthorne demonstrates alienation through the depiction of peoples inherent sin, particularly in the way…

Words 871 - Pages 4

Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God And The Minister's Black Veil

The themes for the two texts, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards, and “The Minister’s Black Veil” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are both similar and different in their own unique ways. They both share the idea of a religious message, while expressing it in their own different ways. The texts also display a preacher teaching this lesson, just in different ways. The texts also share a style and tone of writing, while still being different. These two texts share many similarities and…

Words 684 - Pages 3

Analysis Of The Minister's Black Veil

Hawthorne’s “The Minister’s Black Veil” depicts a struggle between individual morality and communal values. Parson Hooper adorns a veil that acts as a looking-glass, which magnifies the projection of sin onto the parishioners’. Hawthorne dramatizes the conflict between Parson Hooper and the townspeople of Milferd to demonstrate that appearances often contradict reality. Through this conflict, Hawthorne implies that every person hides behind a veil of their own. “The Minister’s Black Veil” is a short…

Words 400 - Pages 2

The Devil And Tom Walker 'And The Minister's Black Veil'

woven relationship with God, and their constant battle with fear of the Devil and sin. These strict religious beliefs are laced into pieces of writing from the time period. Two pieces of literature that truly captures the essence of the time period is “The Devil and Tom Walker” and “The Minister’s Black Veil,” both which have an underlying dark, religious background. The fear of the devil was great at the time and sin was greatly looked down upon, which authors from the era properly reflect in their…

Words 873 - Pages 4

Symbols In The Minister's Black Veil

The Veil as a Symbol in Hawthorne’s “The Minister’s Black Veil” God sacrificed his only son so that our sins could be lifted and the world could be saved. He allowed for us to continue living today. Sin needs to be washed away and have responsibility taken for it. In “The Minister’s Black Veil”, Hawthorne uses symbolism and allegory to portray sacrifice and sin. The veil changes human perspective. The minister is beloved by his people until he wears a veil over his face. They thought he…

Words 797 - Pages 4

Essay Comparing The Cask Of Amontillado And The Minister's Black Veil

American Renaissance, birth of new challengers rose, called the Dark Romantics. “The Cask of Amontillado” written by Edgar Allan Poe and “The Minister’s Black Veil” written by Nathaniel Hawthorne are two pieces of writing that exposes the darkness of humans. “The Cask of Amontillado” reveals the narrator’s intention of murder, while “The Minister’s Black Veil” unveils the human’s irrational fear of differences. As Dark Romantics, Poe and Hawthorne both proclaim that humans are creatures that naturally…

Words 599 - Pages 3

Examples Of Alienation In The Minister's Black Veil

“The Minister’s Black Veil” In “The Minister’s Black Veil”, Hawthorne uses alienation to illustrate his sin and ambiguity. Hoopers wearing of the black veil was a representation for his isolation; it didn’t cause him his loneliness. The author uses the veil to help its readers see that Hooper became a lonely man after putting on the black veil. His parishioners weren’t accustomed to people who were or looked in, this case, different so the veil caused them to be alarmed. This resulted in Hooper…

Words 964 - Pages 4