Symbolism In The Minister's Black Veil

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Nathaniel Hawthorne in “The Minister’s Black Veil” is able to show the hypocrisy and the overemphasis of the Puritan people and their beliefs by engaging the reader in this short story by using “a gentlemanly person” (409) who decides to start wearing a black veil over his face. As Milford’s finest gather on “the porch of [the] meeting house” (409) and enjoy the hope of another Sunday service, the townspeople’s sunny disposition and picturesque setting soon changes as Parson Hooper emerges with a “simple piece of crape” covering his face. This unusual appearance of the Reverend to the townspeople even has some of them feeling faint and forcing some women “of delicate nerves to leave the service” (410). Even though Parson Hooper’s demeanor and his polite and gracious behavior is the same as always, and his preaching is much more interesting and entertaining, the townspeople perceive their minister far differently. As Parson Hooper continues to don the veil, people start to stare at him and rumors begin to fly, especially since his sermon dealt with the topic of secret sin. As the people make him a social pariah, Parson Hooper becomes a representation of hidden sin and an object of dread. Even as death knocks on his door, Parson Hooper still will not allow himself to be unveiled, in fact, Hooper finally reveals that no one should be afraid of him, but of one another because “men avoided me, and women shown no pity, and children screamed and fled” (417) all because of a simple black veil. Through the use of symbols, Hawthorne is able to use this short story to prove that the community people and the Puritan’s religion and their beliefs are hypocritical and over zealous. One of the first ways that depicts the Puritans or t... ... middle of paper ... ... the reader that Parson Hooper may be seen as having the power of God or of one who knows all. The townspeople feared the possibly of others and even God knowing their iniquities and wrongdoings. Even though, the Puritans and the townspeople of Milford place a great deal of respect and emphasis on God, as they reject assessing their sins, they are, in fact, rejecting God as well, just as they rejected Parson Hooper. As Hawthorne shares his short story, the writing teaches a lesson and helps to prove the hypocrisy and overemphasis of the Puritan faith and the beliefs of the townspeople of Milford. These community people were far more interested in the spirituality of others than they were their own, and encouraged secret vices over public display. Hawthorne adequately presented the lesson that to judge oneself was far more important than judging others.

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