It is human nature for people to sin. “The Minister’s Black Veil” is a short story written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. In this story the townspeople become uncomfortable with Mr. Hooper wearing the black veil because it reminds them of their own sin. Hawthorne uses the veil as a way to reveal the theme that no one is perfect and everyone sins at some point in their life.
When the townspeople see Mr. Hooper wearing the veil, they are awestruck. What also makes them uneasy is that his sermon is about secret sin and is “tinged, rather more darkly than usual, with the gentle gloom of Mr. Hooper’s temperament” (461). The townspeople feel as if their secrets are out in the open for everyone to see. Because of this, they are unwelcoming to the idea of Mr. Hooper wearing the veil.
When the funeral is held for a young lady later that evening, Mr. Hooper again arrives still wearing the black veil. Though, this time it is more appropriate. Before the body was carried away, he said a few prayers for the young lady. Some mourners discussed that they believed that “...the minister and the maiden’s spirit were walking hand in hand” (463). What they could have meant by this was that the reason Mr. Hooper is wearing the black veil now is because he either feels sorrow for the death of her or before she died, they committed a sin together.
The same night as the funeral, there was a wedding and, of course, Mr. Hooper shows up in his black veil, which brings the whole mood of the wedding down. “...a cloud seemed to have rolled duskily from beneath the black crape, and dimmed the light of the candles” (463). Now with Mr. Hooper there, wearing his veil, it is like sins have suddenly filled the room with darkness. To the townspeople, Mr. Hooper’s veil is a continuous reminder that they have sinned when they would prefer to just avoid the thought of it. When Mr. Hooper caught “...a glimpse of his figure in the looking glass...he spilt the untasted wine upon the... [continues]
When the townspeople see Mr. Hooper wearing the veil, they are awestruck. What also makes them uneasy is that his sermon is about secret sin and is “tinged, rather more darkly than usual, with the gentle gloom of Mr. Hooper’s temperament” (461). The townspeople feel as if their secrets are out in the open for everyone to see. Because of this, they are unwelcoming to the idea of Mr. Hooper wearing the veil.
When the funeral is held for a young lady later that evening, Mr. Hooper again arrives still wearing the black veil. Though, this time it is more appropriate. Before the body was carried away, he said a few prayers for the young lady. Some mourners discussed that they believed that “...the minister and the maiden’s spirit were walking hand in hand” (463). What they could have meant by this was that the reason Mr. Hooper is wearing the black veil now is because he either feels sorrow for the death of her or before she died, they committed a sin together.
The same night as the funeral, there was a wedding and, of course, Mr. Hooper shows up in his black veil, which brings the whole mood of the wedding down. “...a cloud seemed to have rolled duskily from beneath the black crape, and dimmed the light of the candles” (463). Now with Mr. Hooper there, wearing his veil, it is like sins have suddenly filled the room with darkness. To the townspeople, Mr. Hooper’s veil is a continuous reminder that they have sinned when they would prefer to just avoid the thought of it. When Mr. Hooper caught “...a glimpse of his figure in the looking glass...he spilt the untasted wine upon the... [continues]
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