Breaking The Veil Analysis

The story opens with the church caretaker ringing the church bell to notify the congregation that service is starting, all the while keeping an eye out for the Reverend Mr. Hooper, because as soon as he steps out of his house he’s suppose to stop ringing the bell. As soon as Mr. Hooper stepped out of his establishment, the people become restless as they noticed something was different about their pastor. His face was adorned with a black veil that covered his entire face, except for his chin. Immediately people begin questioning why he decided to wear this veil, especially on the sabbath. Some begin to grow frightened, others thinking he’s absolutely lost his mind. One woman expresses that she would never want to be in a room alone with him while he's wearing the veil, and her husband makes, what seems to me, a very profound remark saying that the minister might not even want to be alone with himself. The story then shifts to Mr. Hoopers sermon and explains that he is a very soft spoken man. He doesn't try to scare his congregation into heaven, by threatening them with hellfire. Instead he tries to gently usher them into the kingdom in a very mild manner. This sermon was no different than the others, but that veil somehow made the sermon, which was about ones secret sins, seem

Hooper is the speaker at a funeral, and his veil does seem appropriate but when he shows up to officiate a wedding later that same day, still wearing the veil, people begin to question even more why he's wearing that veil. Rumors start spreading around that perhaps the good pastor has done some horrible sin with the maiden who passed away. As the rumors circulate, Mr. Hoopers fiancee goes to him begging him to take off the veil, asking why he's wearing it. When he refuses, she says he doesn't care if he wears it for the rest of his life, but just for him to show her his face one time. When he once again refuses, she leaves him in tears and they never get