Symbolism In The Minister's Black Veil

Symbols can be anything but the effect is based upon what they stand for, whether that symbol is an A or a veil. Rev. Hooper was a esteem preacher and was a serene man with a gloomy voice. Hester Prynne is a young, beautiful woman and she holds the gift of doing great work of embroidery. Both characters are good people but their symbols define how the community sees them and how they view themselves. The analysis of the “The Scarlet Letter”, “Minister's Black Veil”, and How To Read ch.12”Is That a Symbol”demonstrate what the symbols worn by Hester and Rev.Hooper mean and show the different perspectives developed all through the novel.
At the beginning of the novel the Minister's Black Veil the community quickly take notice of the veil upon

Rev. Hooper's face “but has good parson hooper got upon his face”?(Hawthorne 1 )when the people notice Rev. Hooper they are in disbelief “are you sure it’s our Parson”? (Hawthorne 1) Without knowing any information on to what reason he wears the veil the community makes an assumption on the veil meaning something bad.” He has changed into something awful by hiding his face”( Hawthorne 1) “ our Parson has gone mad”! (Hawthorne 1) The veil has a quick impression on the community and is interpreted into something horrible symbol of something done wrong. “Let her cover the mark as she will,the pang of it will be always in her heart”.(Hawthorne 45) The community very well knows what Hester has done but don’t know why she would wear the Scarlet letter so publicly and with the craft she made the letter.” In fine red cloth,surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourish of gold thread, appeared the letter A”.(Hawthorne 45). For hester and Rev. Hooper what they have decided to have present upon their body shows that they are aware of it being a symbol but their view is different from the public. Symbols can anything “what do you think it stands for, because that’s probably what it does.At least for you”.(How to read literature 97)
“Representing the Scriptural story of David and Bathsheba, and nathan the Prophet..”.

(Hawthorne 100) In this scene where Dimmesdale's room is begging described their is and allusion. This scene is very symbolic and of importance because it gives us the answer to the whole story of who is the father of Pearl. In the Scriptural story David commits a crime with bathsheba by desiring her and killing her husband in order for him to have her. Nathan later tells David a story in which he makes david realize his sin and fills him with guilt. In this story David represents Dimmesdale, Nathan represents Chillingworth, and Hester is Bathsheba. Objects and images are expected to be symbols, but “Actions can also be symbolic”. (How to read Literature 105) This simple scene of describing a room gives us a key answer to this novel of Dimmesdale being the husband of Pearl.Throughout his life the veil has served a purpose for other sinners as it struck fear and that the must hang on to life until Rev. Hooper was by their side and that he understood their sins and sorrow. A very symbolic event in the “Minister's Black Veil” is the last scene of the minister's death. “ I look around me, and, lo! on every visage a Black Veil”! (Hawthorne 8) This scene shows that everyone is a sinner but we don’t all see it. Yet some are bigger than others but it is always present. The story still leaves us with wonder of did Rev. Hooper commit a sin, because other details links Rev. Hooper with the maidens

death and we keep reading over and over again to find the answer.This tale is all part of Hawthornes technique of hooking the read into the novel.
Symbols also have an effect on the person wearing or using the symbol.

“Hester to ask, the bitterness of heart, whether it were for ill or good that the poor little creature had been born at all”.(Hawthorne 128) Here we see Hester have a sense of regret on having born her child Pearl , because she will very well as her mother be affected by her sin. “Her character had been withered up by this red-hot brand”. (Hawthorne 128) The Scarlet letter had began to have an effect on Hester and how she acted and how she lived every day. Her physical feature had also changed by this A “that her rich and luxuriant hair had either been cut off or was so completely hidden by a cap”. (Hawthorne 128)“ The young woman was tall, with a figure of perfect elegance..”,but now Hester had hidden all her woman like features and we see the affect the Scarlet letter had taken upon her and her child. The veil also has an effect on Rev. Hooper on his relations with other people. Adults and children fear the Black Veil and Elizabeth has an affect on Rev. Hooper. During a conversation with Elizabeth, she ask Rev. Hooper to lift the veil so she may see his face he refuses. “She withdrew her arm from his grasp, and slowly departed,pausing at the door,to give one long shuddering gaze, that seemed almost to penetrate the mystery of the black veil”. (Hawthorne 6) The black veil and the Scarlet letter had a most lasting impression on the people. When Rev. Hooper said that he saw a black veil on everybody's

face it made people think twice about themselves and other people around them. The Scarlet letter had also had a effect on people saw Hester with pride for who she was “ It is our Hester,- the town’s own Hester,-who is kind to the poor, so helpful to the sick, so comfortable to the afflicted” . (Hawthorne 127)
Letter, numbers, or scenes if they mean something they are a symbol. Two main symbols are found in Hawthorne's novels the Minister’s Black Veil and the Scarlet Letter. Both symbols reflect in a since what they did whether good or bad , in this case a sin. The symbols affect the community by changing their points of view of them and the treatment they receive from them. Also, the symbol causes distress and pain to Hester and Rev. Hooper, because these symbols define them and their everyday life. Their symbols will have an everlasting effect on them and especially the community.