These themes can be seen throughout the story as Mr. Hooper, the main character as a Reverend, punishes himself over a sin that is never revealed. He punishes himself to the utmost ability by blocking himself from the rest of the world, which in turn causes him to lose his social status and soon become a dark and mysterious man. Although society often frowns upon unexplained or uncommon beliefs, one should still be bound to them even if there are those who greatly oppose it, like Reverend Hooper had done in “The Minister’s Black Veil”. Even though Mr. Hooper is in a healthy relationship with his wife, he says, “Know, then this veil is a type and a symbol, and I am bound to wear it ever, both in light and darkness, in solitude and before the gaze of multitudes, and as with strangers, so with my familiar friends.
In the parable "The Minister 's Black Veil,” Nathaniel Hawthorne aims to expose the deceitful pretense that members of society base their lives on. Hawthorne discloses the way people hastily judge one another based on looks, appearances, and behavior. He unveils the hypocrisy of society and the way it alienates whoever defy the norms or risk to uncover the covert. He reveals the moral of his allegory in a very ambiguous way through Reverend Hooper belief that everyone has a secret sin that he keeps to himself hidden from others, but certainly not from God. He uses The Black Veil on Reverend Hooper’s face as an emblem to provide evidence to support the notion that all humans are sinners in disguise.
In this essay, the poem “ The Minister’s Black Veil ” by Nathaniel Hawthorne unravels the story of a man who was judged and thought to have committed a terrible sin. The key aspect discussed in “The Minister’s Black Veil” is of secret sin and how Mr. Hooper the communities reverend must carry the burden of these sins like how Jesus died for our sins. Mr. Hooper incites fear in his community after he starts wearing a black veil, but they don’t understand why. Everyone wants to ask Mr. Hooper why he wears a black veil but the community was craven. No one asked Mr.Hooper about the veil until his fiancee brazenly asked him.
In the short story, "The Minister's Black Veil", American Romanticism characteristics are typical with examples like Mr. Hooper and his black veil or Elizabeth and her curiosity. In addition, Mr. Hooper tries to be nice to everyone in the town but they can't take him seriously because of his black veil. The black veil symbolizes secret sin and the darkness of humanity. It also symbolizes the secret sin that all people carry in their hearts.
In these ways, he is qualified as a romantic character. Furthermore, the three ideas levels of parable to the understanding of symbolism of The Black Veil is to let people understand that that's the way you show your secret sins, this could represent the secret sin that all people carry in their hearts, and the black veil is a symbol of secret sin and the darkness of humanity. The symbol of “The Minister’s Black Veil” is the black veil itself, but what it symbolizes is more complicated than it seems to either Hooper or the townspeople. To the townspeople, Hooper’s veil is a clear sign that he is trying to atone for a grave sin. Yet Hooper implies that he intends the veil to be a symbol of mankind’s general sinfulness, not any specific wrongdoing and that everyone has their own rights.
According to Plutarch, an ancient philosopher, said, "The wicked do not need the punishment of God or man, because his corrupt and tormented life is a continuous punishment for them.” This phrase shows how although in some part of the life of Faustus he has everything, at the end he lost everything. When Faustus understand that his contract was about to end, he lives his last days with a lot of fear of what could happen. Faustus ignores God to have a life full of gratuities, fear, and power. Of course, he got it, but he regrets at the end because he ignores God and his punishment was a perpetual life in the
No human is safe from the temptation of sin, or the judgement of God. When asked for one final time, as Mr. Hooper lay on his deathbed, why he wore the veil for so long, Mr. Hooper replies that he sees a black veil on everyone’s face. He believes that everyone lives their lives in a state of sin, and that the veil is a vain attempt to hide sins from each other. By physically representing this belief onto his own face, Mr. Hooper became a powerful figure within the community. The veil struck fear into the congregation, with people’s own sins being reflected onto him.
Everyone has sinned, however does this mean that everyone realizes that they sinned? The book by C.S. Lewis The Screwtape Letters is a book about a devil Wormwood and his uncle Screwtape. Who is discussing ways to tempt and thwart a new Christian in his journey. Many of the situations that Wormwood tries to use, in order to turn the young Christian from his faith, are the very same trials people face in a typical day. Now since everyone can agree that everyone has sinned except for Christ.
“He has changed himself into something awful, only by hiding his face” (Hawthorne XXX) The Minister’s Black Veil by Nathaniel Hawthorne tells the story of a clergyman and a black veil that scares all who see it. Hawthorne’s short story pushes the theme that “Everyone has a black veil and hides who they really are” through dialogue and character’s action. This means every person either hides their unpopular opinions/beliefs or is hiding a secret sin.
On every visage a Black Veil!” (Hawthorne 246). In this quote, Mr. Hooper reveals that he does not wear the veil for his secret sins, but for the secret sins of the townspeople. People are afraid to reveal their secret sins for the punishment they will receive like Mr. Hooper is receiving
When we keep secrets we also keep guilt and guilt will destroy us from the inside. In the book of scarlet letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and how one woman who committed adultery with a character named dimmesdale who is the town revered. Dimmesdale kept secrets to maintaining his reputation but actions the guilt eats him from the inside. Dimmesdale the town revered for the puritan religion. He commits adultery with Hester and has a child, but instead of facing his sin he keeps inside for no one to know.
Young Goodman Brown’s faith seems to be centered around his wife Faith, as if she is his moral compass. Once Brown believes that his Faith is lost and no longer innocent and oblivious to the wicked ways of people surrounding him, Brown turns bitter towards the townspeople. Ultimately, Brown turns from Faith and in an essence lost his faith, humanity no longer believing in the good of mankind. Once Brown realizes that even the purest of heart can be tempted to stray from their beliefs, he loses faith in himself and everyone around him. Faith is the ultimate personification of faith and it is ultimately lost, Brown dies a miserable
Even though everything she own was gone, she still has god by her side and blest his name. The feelings in both of the stories are very depressing and frightening. In Bradstreet’s, when you’re reading it, it sounds like the main person was very scared and didn’t know what was happening. After running out she blest god for saving her.
Though John Proctor‘s affair with Abigail marks him as a sinful person, his good nature makes him a tragic hero. Proctor is said to be respected and feared in the town, but he began to view himself as a fraud. He is fully aware that he has sinned, yet he has not confessed it (1245). His actions mark him as a lecher. This, along with his sparse church attendance, gives enough reason to kick him out of the puritan town and label him a sinner, best to be avoided.
Sweet Rebecca Nurse shall hang! Poor John Proctor, his reputation torn to ruins by the very people that claim to follow your justice! Still unwilling to cave into confessing a lie even after being sentenced to his untimely death. I have not upheld the justice of my Lord as he has, and yet he is the sinner! Why do the wicked benefit while the just are persecuted?