The Minister's Black Veil

As a display of Minister Hooper’s sins, the black veil served as an important symbol in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Minister’s Black Veil. The theme is given early on in the story when the minister gives a sermon, which is noticed as one of the most compelling sermons he has ever given, about secret sins while covering his face by wearing a black veil. The congregation had strong opinions towards the black veil.  Hawthorne writes, “At the close of the service, the people hurried out with indecorous confusion, eager to communicate their pent-up amazement, and conscious of lighter spirits the moment they lost sight of the black veil” (Hawthorne). Minister Hooper acted no differently than he had any other Sunday morning. He treated the visitors with the same respects and even joked with the children, yet he still received the odd, turned off reactions from the congregation. One lady pointed out, “How strange that a simple black veil, such as any woman might wear on her bonnet, should become such a terrible thing on Mr. Hooper’s face” (Hawthorne). Mr. Hooper’s fiancée soon became sick of his black veil. Hooper begged for her to stay claiming that he didn’t want to be alone, but she left him anyways (Hawthorne). Elizabeth, his fiancée, was a selfish woman who became influenced by others’ opinions instead of those of her loved one. There are even times when Mr. Hooper catches his reflection in the mirror and is scared of what he sees. His surprising reaction shows that there is reasoning behind his actions. The black veil symbolizes something that Mr. Hooper believes in, but is not yet able to get across to the people around him. After becoming quite famous for his black veil legacy, Mr. Hooper becomes very ill. He is encouraged to remove the veil by others while on his death bed. The constant reminders and pleads finally get to Mr. Hooper and he shares with them the meaning for the black veil. He says, “If I hide my face for sorrow, there is cause enough; and if I cover it for secret sin, what mortal might have not to do the same” (Hawthorne). The black veil was there to admit that he had sins, and unlike everyone else, Mr. Hooper was no longer going to hide them. He was being open and honest with his congregation, but they took him as a monster instead. Mr. Hooper was always respectful to those around him. He is described as often showing “a sympathetic smile where livelier merriment would have been thrown way” (Hawthorne). The congregations shunned away their reverend without even asking him what the meaning was for the veil. Their secrets, mystery, and sadness are the key points behind the Dark Romanticism piece. It is not uncommon for Nathaniel Hawthorne to be writing about death and the supernatural because that is a popular theme in writings in the Dark Romanticism period (Krueger).

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. "The Minister's Black Veil." Eldritch Press. Web. 23 Jan. 2012.

Krueger, Christine, ed. "Romanticism." Encyclopedia of British Writers, 19th Century, vol. 1. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2002. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc.