What Does The Minister's Black Veil Symbolize

People don’t usually want others to see themselves as sinners. Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote the shot parable “The Minister’s Black Veil” to show how people hide themselves from the rest of the world. Reverend Hooper is the main character in this story. He wears a black veil wherever he goes to hide his sins. People of his town start to fear what he is doing and think it’s odd. People become so afraid of themselves that they want to hide from the rest of the world. The black veil has quite a few symbols to it in the story that support its theme. Hawthorne states, “This dismal shade must separate me from the world” (4). Mr. Hooper is explaining to Elizabeth, his fiance, that she cannot know the reasoning of the veil. He refuses to take it off when she asks in their discussion. Hooper’s black veil is a symbolism for hiding sin. As stated in the quote, he wants to be separated from the rest of the world. Imagery is shown within the parable by Hawthorne using Hooper’s emotions underneath the veil. “A smile gleamed faintly from beneath the black veil, and flickered about his mouth, glimmering as he disappeared” (Hawthorne 2). After the church service people looked at Mr. Hooper and noticed his expression. Everyone became suspicious of his actions, but knew he had feelings too. He has feeling of his own but is too afraid to show it off. Nobody …show more content…
During the church service, Mr. Hooper is standing upon the crowd of people. Strange glances are made to Hooper. Hawthorne explains, “Yet perhaps the pale-faced congregation was almost as fearful a sight to the minister, as his black veil to them” (1). By mentioning that in the story, Hawthorne was bringing about the aspect of being afraid of each other, rather than just a certain individual. The people noticed the black veil but Hooper was affected by their stern and frightened faces. Hiding oneself is scary for both the community and the individual

Show More

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