Comparing Minister´s Black Veil And Roger Malvin's Burial

In the middle of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short stories, “The Minister’s Black Veil” and “Roger Malvin’s Burial,” that analyze the effects of Puritanism on the topics of secret sin and natural depravity, Hawthorne states “...but pride, the fear of losing her affection, the dread of universal scorn, forbade him to rectify this falsehood.” Reuben, who has arrived at this juncture on whether to tell Dorcas the truth about her father or to keep telling her a lie, fears losing his wife along with her love if he tells her that he, in fact, did not bury her father. A common theme is evident throughout Hawthorne’s short stories, which is that Puritanism causes negativity and fear through pointing out other people’s imperfections and disposing of them. Influenced by an opposition to Puritan ideology, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Minister’s Black Veil” and “Roger Malvin’s Burial” illustrate how secret sin and natural depravity control the lives of the characters with fear and negativity.

Reverend Hooper is the subject of attacks from his congregation not because of his black veil, but because he exposes everyone for their sin. Using Natural depravity, Hooper exposes each person and reveals that they are, in fact, sinners because, they were born with original sin. Not wanting to have their flaws highlighted, the puritans slander and speculate about why Hooper is acting strange. They try to turn everyone else’s focus towards Hooper instead of themselves. In “Roger Malvin’s Burial,” Reuben’s son, Cyrus, was born after Reuben’s sin. Only after Reuben shoots his own son can he be relieved of his inner struggle. Hawthorne is trying to convey to the reader the extremes of Puritanism and how foolish some of their ideals are. Through the death of Reuben’s son, he finds relief and inner peace. Killing anyone, especially one’s own son, should not provide satisfaction and happiness. Hawthorne highlights this