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The Minister's Black Veil A Parable Analysis

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In the essay “The Minister’s Black Veil” (a Parable) By Nathaniel Hawthorne, shares three levels of understanding the quantitative symbolisms of the black veil such as, the veil that condemns people for their own sin or confronts them with a truth that they do not want to face, Individuals are unable to confront Hooper directly.the veil is ambiguous, and it certainly changes through the story. Also, it can be implied that Hooper he has donned this veil as a symbol of the universal condition of humanity that will remain separate from God by their death. These factors also contribute to many characteristics from a dark and gloomy shadow to an unknown mysterious concealed mind. The inevitability of fate, the failure of human nature, the limitations …show more content…

Hooper's skillful use of language and multi-layered symbolism to create a story that can be read over and over to gain fresh insight. “The veil...becomes an emblem of the passion for concealment that afflicts all humans to a greater or lesser degree”(Wright 167) The story, as a tale of secret sin, has also been the subject of much interest because it anticipates Hawthorne's treatment of the sinful individuals. I’ve learned that secret sin exists in people, and they are hypocritical about their sins, pretending that they are guileless. This condition is especially true in Mr. Hooper's Puritan “Why do you tremble at me alone?....Tremble also at each other! Have men avoided me, and women showed no pity, and children screamed and fled, only for my black veil?...” (Hawthorne 33) since Mr. Hooper is revealing one's sins makes one vulnerable to public punishment or ostracism by the community. Because of the fear of punishment or ostracism. Therefore, it becomes very uneasy when the minister dons the black veil for his sermon. “...being gloomy. But when Hooper arrives to marry the couple, he is still wearing the veil, casting a mood of seriousness and foreboding over the ceremony.” (Hawthorne 20) We all have a mask that we hide behind for the benefit of the world. We rarely remove this mask except for special people at special times. The minister in the story felt the need to show everyone their real sins, in fact, Mr. Hooper used himself as an example, even in death, he had things to

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