Comparing Darkness In 'Masque Of The Red Death And Minister'

Lightness and darkness is a common theme throughout literature, most writers utilize this style of writing through symbols. Writers use this technique to add interest to their pieces and give the story more depth in its meaning. Poe and Hawthorne implement this literary devices into their stories, which helps to create an engaging story. In Poe’s story “Masque of the Red Death” and Hawthorne’s story “Minister’s Black Veil” both portray themes of lightness and darkness using symbolism throughout. Uses of light symbolism in stories are typically used to depict signs of pureness and life. Poe utilizes this literary element in his description of the rooms. When Poe describes the first of the seven rooms he says “ at the eastern extremity

Parson Hooper is a priest, which is a occupation that holds a connection between life and the Holy Spirit. Hooper’s is a religious man who devotes his life to God, and God is often depicted as lightness in literature. Therefore, Hooper is the parallel between the darkness and the lightness that is shown throughout. Hawthorne also depicts lightness in the form of actual light, such as candles and the sunlight. When Hooper is performing a funeral ceremony Hawthorne writes how “the lights dimmed of the candles dimmed.” This quote shows how the light disappears when the darkness, the veil, is near. Lightness is always being challenged by darkness in

Parson Hooper, the priest, has decided to cloak his face with a black veil, in order to shame himself of his sin. The people of the town said it gave “a darkened aspect to all living and inanimate things” (Hawthorne). This shows how the veil makes the people feel uncomfortable. When Hooper was reading a passage of God’s word the people said “it threw its obscurity between him and the holy page” (Hawthorne). In anything Hooper did it seemed to make the townspeople feel uneasy and eerie because of the veils presence. Hooper’s veil is feared throughout the townspeople because it is meant to represent the conviction of sins and subconsciously they recognize their own fears and