Austin Abrams
Ms. Wright
English 113
January 24th, 2013
Minister's Black Veil/\Guilt
Nathaniel Hawthorne explores the theme of guilt in a Puritan society setting in his short story, The Minister’s Black Veil. Hawthorne uses a black veil as a symbolic representation of how all people, no matter how innocent, have sinned. He uses the Puritan setting as a base for showing how even people who are supposed to be so well behaved, have in fact sinned. The question is whether or not they are willing to own up to what they have done. Hawthorne expresses this theme through events that occur throughout the story, such as how the main character, Reverend Hooper, begins to wear a black veil over his face for symbolism of his sins, the reactions of the ‘Puritan’ citizens, and the tragic end that occurs later on in the story. Nathaniel Hawthorne is showing his readers how ALL people are sinners and sin, that it’s a part of nature.
In the story, the main character, Reverend Hooper, starts to wear a black veil over his face continually. He chooses not to take it off at all, even when his ‘friend’ begs him to just remove it for a few moments. Everyone in the society starts to make up and spread rumors as to why he would do such a thing. Some people insist that the veil is a representation of Hooper’s sins that he has committed. “…rumor of some unaccountable phenomenon had preceded Mr. Hooper into the meetinghouse, and set all the congregation astir…” ~ page 342
With the Reverend being thought of differently, due to the fact that he is wearing and refusing to take off the black veil, all of the Puritan citizens start to avoid him and try to not have any relations or connection to him at all. These ‘Puritan’ citizens are now turning their back on their once loved, and wildly respected minister. They continue this ‘shun’ on the minister up until they need him. It kind of turns into an ‘I’m not your friend until I need something from you’ situation. Even when he acts as if nothing is different and is so kind to the citizens, they still treat him as if he were a ‘witch’. All of those ‘well behaved’ people are just treating Hooper differently all because he chooses to show them the fact that he is just like everybody else, he sins, by wearing the black veil as a symbol. “…strange and bewildered looks repaid him for his courtesy. None, as on former occasions, aspired to the honor of walking by their pastor’s side…” ~page 343
At the end of this short story, Reverend Hooper still isn’t accepted by his fellow citizens in his new choice of fashion and he still wishes to wear the black veil over his face. Tragedy strikes and Hooper passes away. His last wish, to leave the black veil remaining on his face was kept and he was buried with it. Someone could assume that there was a symbolic ending to this story as to the black veil being kept on him. This symbolic representation would most likely be that since the veil symbolizes Hooper’s sins, it just means that he had to live with every last one of his sins for the rest of his life and even to the grave.
Revered Hooper was a symbolic icon for owning up to one’s sins that they have committed throughout live. He showed the citizens in this Puritan society what it means to live with sin and own up to it. Nathaniel Hawthorne expressed the theme of sin and guilt perfectly within this short story.
Ms. Wright
English 113
January 24th, 2013
Minister's Black Veil/\Guilt
Nathaniel Hawthorne explores the theme of guilt in a Puritan society setting in his short story, The Minister’s Black Veil. Hawthorne uses a black veil as a symbolic representation of how all people, no matter how innocent, have sinned. He uses the Puritan setting as a base for showing how even people who are supposed to be so well behaved, have in fact sinned. The question is whether or not they are willing to own up to what they have done. Hawthorne expresses this theme through events that occur throughout the story, such as how the main character, Reverend Hooper, begins to wear a black veil over his face for symbolism of his sins, the reactions of the ‘Puritan’ citizens, and the tragic end that occurs later on in the story. Nathaniel Hawthorne is showing his readers how ALL people are sinners and sin, that it’s a part of nature.
In the story, the main character, Reverend Hooper, starts to wear a black veil over his face continually. He chooses not to take it off at all, even when his ‘friend’ begs him to just remove it for a few moments. Everyone in the society starts to make up and spread rumors as to why he would do such a thing. Some people insist that the veil is a representation of Hooper’s sins that he has committed. “…rumor of some unaccountable phenomenon had preceded Mr. Hooper into the meetinghouse, and set all the congregation astir…” ~ page 342
With the Reverend being thought of differently, due to the fact that he is wearing and refusing to take off the black veil, all of the Puritan citizens start to avoid him and try to not have any relations or connection to him at all. These ‘Puritan’ citizens are now turning their back on their once loved, and wildly respected minister. They continue this ‘shun’ on the minister up until they need him. It kind of turns into an ‘I’m not your friend until I need something from you’ situation. Even when he acts as if nothing is different and is so kind to the citizens, they still treat him as if he were a ‘witch’. All of those ‘well behaved’ people are just treating Hooper differently all because he chooses to show them the fact that he is just like everybody else, he sins, by wearing the black veil as a symbol. “…strange and bewildered looks repaid him for his courtesy. None, as on former occasions, aspired to the honor of walking by their pastor’s side…” ~page 343
At the end of this short story, Reverend Hooper still isn’t accepted by his fellow citizens in his new choice of fashion and he still wishes to wear the black veil over his face. Tragedy strikes and Hooper passes away. His last wish, to leave the black veil remaining on his face was kept and he was buried with it. Someone could assume that there was a symbolic ending to this story as to the black veil being kept on him. This symbolic representation would most likely be that since the veil symbolizes Hooper’s sins, it just means that he had to live with every last one of his sins for the rest of his life and even to the grave.
Revered Hooper was a symbolic icon for owning up to one’s sins that they have committed throughout live. He showed the citizens in this Puritan society what it means to live with sin and own up to it. Nathaniel Hawthorne expressed the theme of sin and guilt perfectly within this short story.