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Minister's Black Veil Symbolism

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Nathaniel Hawthorne delves deep into the morals of human sin during the short story, “The Minister’s Black Veil”. Hawthorne utilizes symbolism that helps to represent romantic views and ideologies in writing. These symbols such as the veil, the village physician, and the conflict created by Elizabeth convey morals relating to the archetypical theme; where the opinion of the atypical differs between contrasting characters. For the duration of the story the minister has a black veil that is cast over his face. This black veil is arguably the most apparent symbol in the story. This black veil is meant to represent the sin that all humans realize they have committed at some time. The atypical theme that is presented creates irony since everybody …show more content…

She is distracted by the veil because she also feels that it is casting onto his full figure and physique. The main symbolic meaning to Elizabeth is the ignorant people who could not understand nor did they try to find the meaning of the veil. Elizabeth creates the conflict that makes the minister lonely since Elizabeth was one person he thought he could trust. She thinks that her fiancé has gone crazy, “‘What previous affliction hath befallen you’, she earnestly inquired, ‘that you should thus darken your eyes forever?’” (Hawthorne). In this case she has no intentions of trying to figure out any other conclusion other than that he has gone mad. This symbolically represents that she realizes what the veil represents but still doesn’t want to admit to her own sins that she has committed. This is similar to the other members of the congregation except that it is more extreme because the minister thought it was one of the only people who could understand his intentions. This relates to the atypical theme where the protagonist is in alienation and isolation. This understandingly cases the character to go into grief. Overall, Elizabeth created conflicted that escalated the plot and made the minister more lonely. Consequently, the symbols in the Minister’s Black Veil help to convey the archetypical theme that the protagonist is

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The symbolism of the black veil gives a eerie, mysterious tone in the minister’s black veil. As story goes on, the meaning of the black veil becomes clear. Mr. Hooper suggested that every mortal people should cover their faces with the black veil because everyone has a secret or sin behind them. Covering face with the black veil also meant that it is revealing their short come to the others that will make them lonely or fall in sorrow. It also represents scary feeling to the others.

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It is a close knit town where everybody knows each other. As the story progresses, it is seen how people will avoid even the most loved friends and family once there is a mysterious barrier in between them. So, throughout the story, the minister’s black veil symbolizes a variety of things such as: secret sins, a barrier, and even sorrow. First off, I think that Father Hooper’s black veil symbolizes everyone’s secret sins. In the beginning of the story, church begins and Hooper appears concealed by a black veil, and everybody is mystified.

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Which allows me to signify that another theme that this story hides is sorrow, there’s a lot of sadness and grief throughout the story. “Have patience with me, Elizabeth!” “ Do not desert me, though this veil must be between us here on earth” (242). “The black veil separated him from cheerful brotherhood and woman’s love.” Hence, one of the major themes of “The Minister’s Black Veil” is that those who acknowledge the secrets of their hearts and those who choose to stand apart from their fellows will often find that they are ostracized and may well lead lives of loneliness, prisoners in their own hearts”( Reed 3 ).

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In The Minister's Black Veil the Minister wore a black veil throughout the entire story. This causes the town mad. Everyone is trying to reflect and understand what the black veil means. The black veil takes a toll throughout the entire town without the town realizing this. This Black Veil is the man piece of the entire story.

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Also, the Minister moved around cautiously because he thought people would find out what sin he had. Whenever he moved around people, they would act all sad and terrible all because of the black veil. From people’s point of view, the characters change their mood for the day, just by their presence and

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1277 Words | 6 Pages

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