Compare And Contrast The Minister's Black Veil And Young Goodman Brown

Queen Ahiwe
ENG 2327 5003 1
Exam 2 Gothic and Slavery
Prof Amy Sidle

Prompt A: Hawthorne
Two of Hawthorne’s short stories, “Young Goodman Brown” and “The Minister’s Black
Veil,” focus on the impact of “sin” on the main characters; two others, provide an argument, using evidence from the stories, for the main point Hawthorne is making in these stories about either sin.

Young Goodman Brown is a perfect example of Hawthorne’s favorite theme- that human nature is full of sin and wickedness. Goodman’s journey in the woods is symbolic of our journey through life, where each individual loses his innocence gradually, as a result of exposure to the sins of humankind.

Young Goodman Brown left home one evening, to take a walk in the devil’s territory, and discovered that sin exists in every human heart. When he woke up from this evil dream, he is changed. He felt “there is no good on earth; and sin is but a name” (392). He believed that “Evil is the nature of mankind” (394). It was a “dream of evil omen for Young Goodman Brown” (395).
The

He used the veil to cover his sins, and shield himself from the rest of the world; it was a “type of an innocent sorrow” (414). The veil was also a symbol, to remind the people of the sins they had committed, and are trying to hide. Before Mr. Hooper started wearing the veil, he “had the reputation of a good preacher” (410); the congregation had a lot of respect for him. They referred to him as “good parson Hooper” (409). He was invited to dinner after each sermon, and was welcome at every occasion. But when he started wearing the veil, the congregation avoided him, he was not invited to dinner anymore. “Old Squire Saunders… neglected to invite Mr. Hooper to his table where the good clergyman had been wont to bless the food, almost every Sunday since his settlement” (411). No one wanted to talk to him. His fiancé left him because he refused to remove the