The Minister's Black Veil Analysis

“I don’t like it, . . . He has changed himself into something awful, only by hiding his face" (Hawthorne 2). The Minister's Black Veil by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the way one man is perceived is changed because of one factor. Mr. Hooper, the town’s minister puts on a black veil so that no one may see his face, but he can still see out of it. Although the parishioners are terrified of the black veil, thoughts arise as to why Mr. Hooper is wearing it, “Yet perhaps the pale-faced congregation was almost as fearful a sight to the minister, as his black veil to them” (Hawthorne 3).
Before he put the veil on, Mr. Hooper was seen as a open person, however, once the veil is on, people think he’s hiding something. The same can be said of some people today. THey wear what they feel like and others don’t. Now, I put these questions to you: Does how you dress reflect the person you are inside or does your dress have no bearing on who you are? Does the way you dress affect how others see you?

Some people dress in light and airy clothes and are often perceived as open people, willing to share their thoughts and feelings. Other people dress in dark and heavy clothes, and these people are mostly seen a closed-off and introverted. Nither one of these styles define who those people truly are. Mr. Hooper certainly dressed for himself, “If I hide my face for sorrow, there is cause enough” (Hawthorne 7). He didn’t care what others thought about him. If he wants to hide his face because he is sad or upset, then he will. However, in this case, he was judged on his appearance. Hooper feels that everyone has a ‘veil’ about them, his was not only figurative, but also