Minister's Black Veil Thesis
Austin Scott
Mrs. Spampinato
English III – Period 8
8 December 2014
The Power of a Black Veil
Mr. Hooper enters the church wearing a black veil covering his face. The town’s people are unsure and freaked out by Mr. Hooper. He’s trying to hide something within himself and only himself. While wearing the veil he keeps to himself most of the time and avoids contact with others. He must keep the veil on otherwise it will lose its significance. In “The Minister’s Black Veil,” Nathaniel Hawthorne expresses that the black veil is a symbol of shame.
As the story begins, Hawthorne uses irony to describe why the black veil is important to convey the message the author is trying to send. For example, The author states, “when man does not vainly shrink from eye of his creator, them deem me a monster, for the symbol beneath which I have lived, and die!” (Hawthorne 481). He is keeping the veil on him because taking off the veil off would be worse. He feels keeping the sin inside him will serve him better. In addition, the author explains, “no attempts were made to remove Mr. Hooper’s black
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“is it fitting that a father in the church should leave a shadow on his memory that may seem to blacken a life so pure?” (Hawthorne 480). He wants to die with the veil on him. God should be the only one that gets to judge Mr. Hooper; no one else should be able to judge him. “And good Mr. Hooper’s face is dust; but awful is still the thought” (Hawthorne 481). Mr. Hooper has died with the over his face as he wished. His time on earth has been spent with the veil. “He cannot lift the veil himself. Only God can do that at the final judgment when he reveals to Hooper where his soul will spend eternity” (Montbriand 1). God decides the fate of your soul, not humans. That’s the way Mr. Hooper wants it to be. The image of Mr. Hooper lying of his deathbed with the black veil over his face symbolizes his time on earth where sin is
Character Analysis: The Ministers Black Veil
390 Words | 2 PagesAfter reading the Ministers Black Veil we cannot assume that Hooper, the main character, has committed a dark and secret sin. We are, however, free to assume that Hooper is wearing the veil for a reason, one that may be greater than himself. The veil is a symbol of many things, all revolving around public hypocrisy. The townspeople are quick to judge The Minister for wearing such a sinful crape but they themselves overlook their own sins amongst the chaos of speculating the different crimes he must of committed to be wearing the veil.
Comparing Scarlet Letter, The Ministers Black Veil, And The Birthmark
615 Words | 3 PagesChris Ocampo Period 4A October 18,2015 Character Analysis/symbolism/Theme Identification-Analysis Essay Nathaniel Hawthorne’s use of symbolic commentary and conventional themes in The Scarlet Letter, The Ministers Black Veil, and The Birthmark, characterizes sin and judgment as deformations within us all. Within each of Hawthorne’s’ works sin reflects internal and exposed sins, as well in people’s flaws. However, there deformations expand further than the objects that they wear. All of the major symbols and themes in Hawthorns selected works embody Alienation. Hester Prynne, Aylmer, and Mr. Hooper are linked to the ambiguity of Puritan morals.
Gender Norms And Racial Bias In The Minister's Black Veil
958 Words | 4 PagesWhen she finds out that he is deathly ill she comes to his death bed to be by his side. Elizabeth and the Reverend ask him once again to remove the veil, but he refuses. As he dies, those around him tremble. He tells them in anger not to tremble, not merely for him but for themselves, for they all wear black veils. Father Hooper is buried with the black veil on his face.
The Minister's Black Veil Analysis
488 Words | 2 PagesHooper, “a gentlemanly person of about thirty, though still a with clerical neatness, as if a careful wife had starched his band and brushed the weekly dust from his Sunday's garb”. In this story, author describes characters very specifically so that it is easier for readers to know how they look like and their reaction about the situation. This help readers to get more focus into the story and ultimately, it add more calmness, darkness and mysteriousness of the story. “Its [the veil's] gloom, indeed, enabled him to sympathize with all dark affections. Dying sinners cried aloud for Mr. Hooper, and would not yield their breath till he appeared; though ever, as he stooped to whisper consolation, they shuddered at the veiled face so near their
And Contrast The Minister's Black Veil And Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God
298 Words | 2 PagesAfter reading both of the text “The Minister 's Black Veil” by Nathaniel Hawthorne and “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards they’re various similarities and differences can be noted, especially toward the attitudes of sin and guilt. In the story’s the are just portrayed a little bit different. In both stories the feel that sinning is horrible and should be frowned upon. In the story the “Minister 's Black Veil” Nathaniel Hawthorne wants the reader to know that Reverend Hooper is wanting to hide his past sins.
Examples Of Alienation In The Minister's Black Veil
1555 Words | 7 PagesHooper wears the veil for a reason, but it is unknown. Hawthorne describes the veil as mysterious and the talk of the town. He says “that and the mystery concealed behind it, supplied a topic for discussion between acquaintances meeting in the street, and good women, gossipping at their own windows” (Hawthorne, par.15). By Hooper wearing the veil, it causes him to isolate himself because he does not tell the people why he wears it. By Hooper wearing the veil he can not love his fiance because it gets in the way of their love.
The Ministers Black Veil
468 Words | 2 PagesThis being another reason he his wearing the black veil, although it is never clearly stated why he is wearing the black veil. In the "Ministers Black Veil", I believe Mr. Hooper wears the black veil to show the sins of the puritans in the village. I believe this because there are more facts to support this reason. It is stated throughout all of Article Two and throughout some of Article One.
What Does The Veil Symbolize In The Minister's Black Veil
522 Words | 3 PagesSince Mr. Hooper will not break to these cries and pleas he is only separating himself from everyone else and society. Throughout the story “Minister’s Black Veil” Mr. Hooper sacrifices many thing by him wearing the black veil. As a result of Mr. Hooper’s actions he sacrifices his social life, he sacrifices his relationship with his wife Elizabeth, and he is separating himself from society by wearing the black
Similarities Between Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God And The Black Veil
831 Words | 4 Pages“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards and “The Black Veil” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are two texts that talk about religious topics, like sinning. The preachers in both texts are opposites. The texts describe both preachers and how they act upon the church. However, Edwards text was more effective because he used strong, visual words and a subjective tone to grab the reader’s attention and pull them in.
What Is The Reason In The Minister's Black Veil
559 Words | 3 PagesHooper was wearing the veil to make people that actually did sin feel better about themselves. He was looked at as an idol by everyone so why would he wear a veil for people who did wrong? Mr. Hooper did something someone of his position was sacred to do and he was scared for his fiancée and his church to find out. As a reverend he was not supposed to sin, and that is why everyone looked at him differently and judged him without knowing why he wore the veil. By wearing the veil, he had to commit another sin and lie to his fiancée about why he was wearing it and he broke their vows as a result.
Religious Hypocrisy In The Minister's Black Veil
2165 Words | 9 PagesWhile reading this novel, many people have theorized that Hooper is covering his face in the black veil because he has sinned and is unable to handle the remorse that has resulted from his sin. According to an article by Harold Bloom, “The Minister’s Black Veil,” states, Because of the mystery surrounding this black veil, it does not take long for rumors to surface. Goodman Gray suggests that Reverend Hooper has gone mad. During the service, several people leave because they feel uneasy about the minister's veil. Although Reverend Hooper does not normally have a powerful preaching style, his sermon on this day strikes its listeners as powerfully dark, containing “reference to secret
The Minister's Black Veil Symbolism
1158 Words | 5 PagesThe wearing of the veil is a confession of guilt and a suggestion that everyone should do the same. Mr. Hooper really did not understand how much this black veil was going to affect the congregation until raising his glass in a toast for a newlywed couple and catching a glimpse of himself in the looking glass. Right then and there is when Mr. Hooper realized, "the Earth, too, had on her black veil” (Hawthorne 2145). This means that everyone is hiding; most people would not wear a black veil and have no reason in doing so. Is it that the people afraid of what the veil represents to Mr. Hooper or are they afraid of what it represents to themselves?
Examples Of Isolation In The Minister's Black Veil
279 Words | 2 Pagesyou know not how lonely I am, and how frightened to be alone behind my black veil. Do not leave me in this miserable obscurity forever!” The black veil caused for Mr. Hooper to lose his love. Both were really close but the black veil inferred in their relationship. However,
Isolation In The Minister's Black Veil
668 Words | 3 PagesMr.Hooper new that throughout his life of trying to get many people to understand why he did such thing like of the black veil. They would never understand why so and/or overpass through the negative reactions of the people towards him for wearing the
The Minister's Black Veil Literary Analysis
993 Words | 4 PagesIn the “Minister’s Black Veil”, Hawthorne displays Hooper and the symbol of the veil as a representation of how judgmental society can become when faced with situations they don’t understand even though they have no right to judge. The “Minister’s Black Veil” was written as a parable in order to teach us a moral lesson stating that you should never judge someone. In Paul J. Emmett’s literary criticism he tells of a point in the story when Hooper explains his reasoning for wearing the veil, Emmett says, “After exhausting life in his efforts for mankind’s spiritual good, he had made the manner of his death a parable, in order to impress on his admirers the mighty and mournful lesson, that, in the view of infinite purity, we
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