Similarities of “The Minister’s Black Veil” and “Young Goodman Brown” “The Minister’s Black Veil” and “Young Goodman Brown” are two short stories written by Nathaniel Hawthorne that share many similarities. In his writings, Hawthorne displays a fascination with the Puritanical beliefs and ideals associated with sin and wickedness. Such ideals serve as a common thread that weaves the stories together by using a religious base, symbolism, and a dark mood. First, Hawthorne’s meticulous usage of religion is the foundation of both stories. They are set during the Puritan time period in which people were very concerned with sin. For example, in “The Minister’s Black Veil”, Mr. Hooper wears a black veil over his face which represents secret sin. He refuses to remove this veil and claims that “there is an hour to come when all of us shall cast aside our veils”(Hawthorne). This implies that everyone’s …show more content…
“The Minister’s Black Veil” conveys this mood by showing how the minister is isolated by his black veil as everyone around him is chilled by the mere presence of it. The color black itself represents the darkness of the situation. “Young Goodman Brown” also depicts this mood through its setting. Hawthorne evokes a sinister vibe as he describes the goodman traveling through the forest at night accompanied by the devil. This mood grows as he discovers the evil congregation surrounded by shadows and flames. A certain darkness encompasses each of these stories and helps represent the recurring themes of evil and sin throughout them. In conclusion, “The Minister’s Black Veil” and “Young Goodman Brown” are both strongly based in religion, contain symbolism, and share a dark mood. These elements enrich the stories by conveying the important points included in each one. Hawthorne synthesizes these elements in much of his literature, which explains how these stories are beautifully woven together like a well-crafted