“The Minister’s
Black Veil”
Nathaniel Hawthorne
p. 299
Nathaniel Hawthorne
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1804-1864
Heavily influenced by his Puritan ancestry.
Felt a great deal of guilt for his family’s
involvement in the Salem Witch Trials.
Common theme: secret sin.
Famous for his dark insights into the
human heart.
Summary
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Mr. Hooper shocks his congregation by wearing a
black veil during his Sunday sermon. His subject
is secret sin. The veil gives his hearers the strong
impression that somehow, perhaps because of his
own guilt, he sees their secret iniquities. No one
dares ask Mr. Hooper why he wears it. He tells his
fiancé that he must wear it for the rest of his life.
His refusal to take off the veil costs him his
marriage and social acceptance. He declares on
his deathbed that the veil must remain on his face
and that he sees a black veil “visage” on every
face around him.
Parable
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“The Minister’s Black Veil” is a parable, a
short tale that teaches a moral.
Parables are used throughout the Bible.
Meanings of parables are often ambiguous
and elusive, leaving the listener/reader to
determine meaning.
Symbol
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The veil is the central symbol.
Wearing a veil can symbolize two things:
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mourning
shame of the wearer.
Mr. Hooper never exposes his reasons for wearing the
veil, although he does express that it is to expose his
own secret sins.
Mr. Hooper is honest about his sins, contrasting with
society around him.
Veil could symbolize the moment of death when all sins
are exposed for judgment.
The Power of the Veil
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Congregation: The mysterious symbolic shame of the veil
makes the parishioners uncomfortable because he forces
them to examine their own secret sins.
Fiancé: Elizabeth will not marry him.
Sinners: They feel as if Mr. Hooper understands them and
can lead them to goodness.
Wedding ceremony: casts a dark gloom over the participants,
including Mr. Hooper. Forces them to acknowledge sin on a
day that is supposed to be joyful.
The community/village: People are afraid of him and shun
him. He is cut off from love and sympathy.
Themes
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Possible themes include:
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Guilt and innocence.
Alienation, both from society, ourselves, and
God.
Moral corruption and sin.
Hypocrisy.
The “veils” all people hide behind.
Dark Romantic Literature
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This story reflects dark romantic values:
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Exposes sin and guilt – the dark side of humanity.
Recognizes the evil that exists within all humans.
Presents individuals as prone to sin and self-destruction.
The veil has a supernatural quality to it and is the central
symbol of the story.
Story is heavily influenced by psychology.
The mood of the story is dark and gloomy.