Stylistic Devices In The Minister's Black Veil

In the “Minister's Black Veil” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the main character named Mr. Hooper who wears a black veil. Hawthorne uses symbolism to represent secret sin and shows the theme is death. In the story Hooper wears a black veil which symbolizes hiding sin. “But what if the world will not believe that it is the type of an innocent sorrow?” urged Elizabeth. “Beloved and respected as you are, there may be whispers that you hide your face under the consciousness of secret sin.

Hawthorne wanted his readers to understand that two people who have sinned can seek forgiveness and receive it. Throughout the story many stereotypes are expressed and Hawthorne used the listed stereotypes to express the idea that all people, both pure of heart and evil of soul, commit sins. When Hester, a beautiful, young woman and Dimmesdale a minister have an affair, thus committing a sin, they both provide an example of a cliche that good people make poor decisions. Hawthorne used Hester and Dimmesdale as stereotypes to prove that all people, no matter the morale or disposition, commit

Through the use of figurative language and syntax, Chillingworth’s description and his actions symbolize him as a mysterious and wild evil doing the devil’s bidding. In the first passage, from the chapter,

French designer Philippe Starck once claims: “I like to open the doors to people’s brain.” Nathaniel Hawthorne 's short story “The Minister’s Black Veil” reflects this principle in which the author advertently creates ambiguities and opens the possibilities of interpretation to the readers. Nathaniel Hawthorne employs commonplace symbols to present the ambiguity of sin and secrecy through a psychological lens in “The Minister’s Black Veil”. This short story also reflected the principle of Puritanism as well, such as the idea of manifest destiny represented by Mr. Hooper in the story. Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts. It is also worth to notice that John Hawthorne, one of the Salem Witch Trial Judges, was his great grandfather (Concise Dictionary of American Literary Biography).

Imagine darkness, sin, and the desire to keep it all hidden from yourself and the outside world. Together Poe and Hawthorne paint this picture of traits which consist of suspense and darkness. Within the stories “Tell Tale Heart” and “Ministers Black Veil”, the two authors writing styles are vividly comparable. With the comparison of these short stories, it becomes more than feasible to feel the true emotion and movement that Poe and Hawthorne wished to give to their readers. Throughout “Tell Tale Heart” and “Ministers Black Veil”, both Poe and Hawthorne use symbolism to show they cannot hide from their sins.

More importantly is what the black veil really symbolizes, which there can be plenty of meanings behind. The meaning that makes the most sense when it comes to the black veil would have to be that the black veil is a symbol of secret sin and the darkness of humanity. This symbol can be seen in the following quote, "in addition to standing for man 's concealment or hypocrisy," (Stibitz 1), and emphasizes the idea that the veil symbolizes how there is darkness in humanity. Mr. Hooper wore this black veil to symbolize the secret sin that we all seem to carry within us, but we are all too afraid to demonstrate and let it out. The black veil has a very deep and suspenseful meaning to it when you take a more in depth view of it, because when we go just go with an interpretation it seems as if he is just wearing it for a funeral.

This method looks at the biblical narrative not as a historical source that something lies behind the text. But, it looks at the narrative as a literary text that may be analysed in literary terms that is plot, characterization, point of view in narrative like other works of literature. Narrative criticism reads biblical narratives as literature or story, taking a fiction approach, which treats the text as art or poetry. They interpret the text in its final form in terms of its own story world. A narrative critic’s close reading assumes literary integrity and reads the text holistically.

I agree that both “The Masque of the Red Death” and “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allen Poe can be described as short stories that value symbol over plot. Poe uses various symbols to disclose information or details to the reader, while also leaving components of the story open to interpretation. This symbolism tells its own story within the overall plot, rather than it being explained clearly by the author, cleverly adding to the interest of the read. This effective allegory allows the reader to question their literal understanding of the story, once faced with the deeper philosophical ideas. This means that in the case of these two short stories, symbols are valued over plot.

Drama is literature written for performance--or at least written in a style that would allow for stage performance. As a text form, drama can be thought of as story told though spoken remarks and stage directions(Kurland ,2000) .When we hear the term drama we think fun, excitement , expression of one’s self . A famous quote says that “play is not in the words, it’s in you” (Steller Adler). In the world of drama it is essential that we understand the difference between Process and Product Drama. The importance behind their differences is vital as it will help one to better able appreciate ad understand what drama is really about and what drama entails because drama is seen as much more than just movements , drama is life itself.

Imagery: Typical portrayals in Frost's verse express the thoughts and considerations, "the utilization of images to speak to thoughts or qualities. "5 Robert Frost clearly utilized image in his verse in which he communicated his inward thought, in this way image turns into a focal methods for his verse which shows the human protest of verse where the verse proposes the in place circumstance and demonstrates the image of verse. M.Abrams opines in A Glossary of Literary Terms: In the broadest sense an image is anything which connotes something else; in this sense all words are images. In talking about writing, notwithstanding, the expression "image" is connected just to a word or expression that connotes a question or occasion which in its turn implies something, or proposes a scope of reference, past itself. A few images are "regular" or "open": therefore "the Cross," "the Red, White, and Blue," and "the Good Shepherd" are terms that allude to typical objects of which the further importance is determinate inside a specific culture.

That cheerful eye, under the influence of slavery, soon became red with rage; that voice, made all of sweet accord, changed to one of harsh and horrid discord; and that angelic face gave place to that of a demon”(Narrative). Once slavery corrupted her, her once angelic traits were replaced with those that could only be seen as pure evil. Thus, reinforcing the idea that slavery tainted slaveholders who were once seen as good people. Douglass demonstrated the significance of the phrase: “good people do bad things” during the times of

The Ministers Black Veil, for instance, has accented the fantastic aspect of human experience hence, Mr. Hooper wearing the veil. In the story, Mr. Hooper wears the veil for something like a secret sin. People, in general, wouldn 't go to that extent on wearing a veil for such a long time or like Mr. Hooper, his whole life. That aside, Mr. Hooper exaggerates the sin he may have made, and it adds more of a suspense feeling to the story and to why he is wearing the veil. The Ministers Black Veil also shows a restraint against freedom.

I believe the theme of this story is about sin and guilt and how the minister wore the black veil on his face as a symbol of hiding our sins and how people never really want to face them or see their own sins. Within