The Minister's Black Veil

"The Minister's Black Veil:"

A regular priest, Mr.Hooper decides to wear a black veil and consequently his whole life changes. Such a materialistic thing can be hard to comprehend why something like that can change someone's life but there are different interpretations of the story to be understood. Usually, a story like this can be identified as a parable it can have several meanings and subsequently leads to a moral lesson.

In this story, it demonstrates characteristics of American Romanticism such as Mr.Hooper. American Romanticized characters seem to have limitations of humanity, Inner conflict, and the disconnect between man and his nature. Throughout this story, the lack of profound spiritual perception contrasts the obsessive interest

of the congregation in shallow physical perception.For example, when Mr.Hooper shows himself and the people see his veil they said it had an obscurity between him and the holy page and the reference to secret sin made it the sermon a whole darker.(Pg 3) Also, Mr.Hooper, when asked by his fiancee why he wears the black veil and asks him to let his see his face he quickly neglects and tells her that he cannot show his face because it is a vow and a sign of mourning he is committed to keeping.(Pg 10 & 11) Another qualification of an American Romanticized story is the supernatural,mystery and emotion.

In addition, when Mr. Hooper attends a funeral someone claims to see the spirit of the young dead maiden and Mr.Hooper spirit walking hand in hand.(Pg 7) Another example is how he is referred to as a bugbear and how the children would always flee from him. (Pg 12) Mr. Hooper is an example of this period because he rejects society by wearing the black veil. In the same way, the people seem to be more distant towards him because of how he has seemed to be different and act very cold towards him. As well as becoming more isolated he starts taking a good look at himself and notices how the veil is an accurate representation of himself and the world and the deeper meaning of secret sin. In the same Mr.Hooper returns from his dark night of the soul to show, not understanding and compassionate brotherhood, but melancholy, asceticism and the

acceptance of sin and isolation. Another qualification is that he lets his feelings guide him instead of the reality of things, he feels the need to be truthful to himself and take it upon himself as his responsibility. Equally important the black veil can symbolize the representation of Mr.Hoopers secret sin or the secret sin that all people carry or it can be a broader idea of secret sin and symbolizes the darkness of humanity.

Another meaning of the black veil can be an acknowledgment of how he recognizes secret sin and instead of everyone else hiding and judging him, he is the one who chooses to represent the injustices that humanity commits and is immediately separated from everyone. It also can be an understanding of seeing everything through a dark veil or seeing the black veil as truth distorted and a symbol of pride and deliberate self-isolation. The ambiguous veil is used as a catalyst by which other moral and perceptual values are examined. Since Mr.Hooper attitude is dramatic the removal of the veil can encapsulate the reader by simple curiosity,personal uneasiness and the appeal to a sense of clerical property, the assumption of a horrible crime. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses a lot of references to the bible for example when he calls the people auditors only implies that they remain spiritually blind despite Mr.Hoopers renewal of religious symbology and the informing scripture here is perhaps the parables of sowers after which Jesus says " Who

hath ears to hear, let him hear " and then, "therefore speak I to them in parables:because they seeing not; and hearing they hear not,neither do they understand. That Hawthorne uses this and other scriptures as a thematic base for his story seems to why he called it a parable. To elaborate this parable we have to look at all the different perspectives, the first one is to avoid secret sin because there is always a consequence. Furthermore, the next understanding can be interpreted as the veil being a cover up the hideous acts of a sin. Another essential point is the loneliness and nakedness are obvious to all. Mr. Hooper can also be seen as the scapegoat from the transgression the public eye knows or sees. Moreover when the veil is lifted and confession is spoken,when tears are shed and when the sin is no longer a secret, but an open admission of personal weakness. Once the soul is barred before one's friends and one's creator, then the absolution becomes, then the sinner can be forgiven, by others and by himself. Without this candid acknowledgment of who we really are and the forgiveness that leads to reconciliation to ourselves and others, neither human nor divine love can penetrate the recess of our souls. More importantly, this story conveys the moral honesty in public and private affairs and it also can be insightful into a great truth about living.