The Black Veil Analysis

People wear masks to hide their true identity. This is evident in the story when the minister walks out to the congregation for the first time with the black veil on. “I can’t really feel as if good Mr. Hooper’s face was behind that piece of crepe,” said the sexton. In this section of the story, the congregation is very confused of the actions of their Reverend Mr. Hooper. He was known as the most “religious” person in the town, and now he has a black veil on that symbolises death and darkness. This theme is also evident when members of the church stated their opinion about the veil. “I don’t like it, he has changed himself into something awful, only by hiding his face,” and old women muttered.
Fear of judgement, loses true identity. In the story this is evident when they are describing the reactions of seeing their minister with the black veil on. “Few could refrain from twisting their heads towards the door; many stood upright, and turned directly about; while several little boys clambered upon the seats and came down again with a terrible racket.” This is showing that when the minister wasn’t showing his true self, fear and confusion came upon them. The congregation was astonished that a black veil had so much impact on changing good Mr. Hooper. “How strange,” said a lady, “that a simple black veil,
In the society in the story and also the society that we live in now, people are so concerned with judgement that they do things to please others and not themselves. Good Mr. Hooper covers his face with a simple black veil and that leads people in the community to judge him for that. The judgement occurred because they think that he is his identity from the congregation. People from the congregation began to spread false rumors about the Minister even though he did not lose his identity, he simply just put a black veil on and gave the congregation fear with his