Symbols In The Minister's Black Veil

In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story, “The Minister’s Black Veil,” one of the major themes seen throughout the story is that everyone “wears” a black veil and has a secret sin or sorrow that they wish to hide from others. There are many other symbols within the story. The author has Mr. Hooper, the preacher, symbolize sin by wearing the black veil. Throughout the story, it is clear that the town residents think highly of Mr. Hooper because he had the “reputation of a good preacher” (Hawthorne 3). However, his good reputation ended when he walked out wearing the black veil because it scared the residents. “The Minister’s Black Veil” describes how everyone is wearing a veil because no one is really who they say they are. On page 6 of “The Minister’s Black Veil,” the reader sees that Mr. Hooper was also scared of himself in the reflection in the mirror (Hawthorne 6). He was also scared because of what all he had become. Mr. Hooper had become overwhelmed with his guilt from sin. Not only was he scaring himself, he was also scaring the members of his church. They had “a feeling of dread” because they were not sure how to deal with Mr. Hooper, except his girlfriend, Elizabeth (Hawthorne 7). Elizabeth tried asking him to take off the veil, but every time he refused. This refers back to the theme because he was not taking off the veil

Hooper gave up walking around places other than his house because even “the gentle and timid would turn aside to avoid him” (Hawthorne 9). He started feeling worse about all of his secret sins, so Mr. Hooper could no longer pass by mirrors as seen on page 10 of “The Minister’s Black Veil.” Many of the townspeople did not understand why he changed all of a sudden.They thought he may of committed a crime or that he covered himself so that “love or sympathy could never reach him” (Hawthorne 9). He had allowed his secret sins and sorrows overtake him, and he eventually could not share them with