Symbols In The Minister's Black Veil

" The Minister's Black Veil", a parable written by Nathaniel Hawthorne is an intriguing story that is about a minister named Mr. Hooper who lived in a small puritan town of Milford. In the story, Mr. Hooper is portrayed to wear a black veil across his face. The Puritan people seemed to be disturbed by the mysterious veil which makes the people in the town full of curiosity. Parson Hooper was isolated by his Fiancee and people in the town to reveal his face by taking off the veil and ask him why he's wearing it and why he won't withdraw it from his face. Parson Hooper is believed to wear the black veil because it is referred as a dark symbol and is alluded to be a "secret sin".

Though many faithful believers deduce that Hooper has committed

"Hooper's veil is an "emblem"...His veil is a symbol of regret and shame"(McCarththy 132). Whereas the black veil indicates the secret sin that all people carry in their hearts according to "The Minister's Black Veil".

There is a variety of symbolic meanings that can be applied to the black veil, but it is not ambiguously specified what the actual meaning is. As identified by Nathaniel's story, the veil can symbolize Hooper's own sin, the sins of the parishioners, and maybe the sins of the isolations from God, considering the words that Hooper said at the end of the story "I look around me, and, lo! on every visage a Black Veil!"(Hawthorne 17).

Furthermore, the symbol can be implied that Hooper himself has put on this veil as a representation of the universal shape of humanity that will stay separate from God until

Suffice it to say that the mainstream of the argument has moved, in a logical sequence, from one polarity to the other polarity"(Barry 1).

What I have learned in my research for "The Minister's Black Veil" was that there were so many different symbolic meanings about the veil, which can make me learn the different aspects of how many meanings one simple veil can possess. I thought this was a substantial story that had several interpretations about the real world. Hawthorne wrote this story with great essence and impurity to show the readers that many people sin, and with him using the black veil as a reference to a shield of defense from all sins, is a fascinating comparison of referral. Thoroughly, I would recommend other readers who have not yet attained the hard work of Nathaniel Hawthorne, because as him being an American Romanticism writer, he had a part moving and inspire others with his literary and artistic exertion. While reading this story, I have noticed that Hawthorne had written this in an allegorical style informative tone. I think that the "Minister's Black Veil" is an interesting contrast on Hawthorne's theme of intangible isolation. The paradox to me might imply to outsiders' perspective, which was the limitations of their judgments, but also the comprehensive of humanness in them. In conclusion, "The Minister's Black Veil" a parable by American Romantic author, Nathaniel Hawthorne