Sinners The Hands Of An Angry God And The Minister's Black Veil

Edwards and Hawthorne

Is sin truly the root to all evil? Authors Nathaniel Hawthorne and Jonathan Edwards believe so. Through their own writing styles and stories, each author develop a theme regarding sin. “The Minister’s Black Veil,” and “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” each incorporate comparing and contrasting themes and styles. Although each selection develops its own theme, “The Minister’s Black Veil” has a far more effective one. Both texts reveal its own approach to similar ideas, leaving its audiences intrigued. In both written works, similar themes and styles are shared. Through literary devices, syntax, and tone, each story develops a theme around sin. For example, in “The Minister’s Black Veil,” the veil symbolizes sin.

In, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” Edwards uses an aggressive tone towards his audience. For example, he states, “You tend downward with great weight and pressure towards hell.” He points a finger towards his church, and degrades their actions. Additionally, Edwards’ theme is that a person’s sins weighs them down. Like the previous quote, he continually tells the people that they are to be ashamed of their sins to reach Heaven. In contrast, “The Minister’s Black Veil,” incorporates a narrative style, with the theme that one cannot hide from their own sins. Hawthorne writes, “There is an hour to come when all of us shall cast aside our veils.” The veil symbolizes sin, so the quote explains that one lives with their sins until death. This is a key line that ties the story’s theme

Through a descriptive use of syntax and tone, Hawthorne's theme easily comes across to its readers. His theme is more factual. He develops his theme through scenes, tone, and dialogue, while Edwards develops his theme strictly through his speech. Since Hawthorne's theme is developed through various ways, it is easy to draw more inferences and ideas from his story. Hawthorne’s theme is that sin stays with someone until death. He uses symbolism and references to support this theme. Edwards uses repetition to get across the theme that sin holds a person down. He states, “If God should withdraw his hand, they would avail no more to keep you falling.” Again, he states, “Yet, it is nothing but his hand that holds you from falling into the fire.” He says numerous times that God holds up someone from falling because their sins weigh so heavily. It is more realistic and effective to think that sins stay with someone than