The Ambiguity Of Sin In The Minister's Black Veil

“Most dangerous is that temptation that doth goad us on to sin in loving virtue,” wrote William Shakespeare in describing the threat of falling into sin while seeking to do good. In “The Minister’s Black Veil,” Reverend Hooper dons a black veil and sins against his social responsibilities as a role model and alienates his congregation while attempting to make them more virtuous. Hooper’s choice highlights the ambiguity of sin and sorrow which is present in the reactions of Hooper’s community towards the veil, Hooper’s fiancée’s reaction to the veil, and Hooper himself, all of whom have difficulty grasping the truth and reality of another person. While I have never literally worn a black veil, I can see how I view the world through the “veil”

Elizabeth’s decision to leave Hooper could be considered sinful in that she abandons him because of a merely mortal obstacle, even when Hooper still loves her, ignoring his pleas not to leave him to a life of loneliness and fear. However, Hooper’s actions could also be viewed as sinful. Hooper refuses to comply with any of Elizabeth’s wishes, though he claims to love her, and willingly destroys his chance at domestic happiness, leading to broken hearts for both Elizabeth and Hooper. Elizabeth expresses her disgust with the veil during an exchange with Hooper, “‘Lift the veil but once, and look me in the face’, said she [Elizabeth]. ‘Never! It cannot be!’ replied Mr. Hooper. ‘Then farewell!’ said Elizabeth” (Page 462). Elizabeth clearly views the veil as an attack on her and Hooper’s relationship and is so upset by it that she actually leaves Hooper, whereas Hooper sees the veil as a merely mortal symbol that should not interfere with his and Elizabeth’s relationship. The veil further concerns Elizabeth because she views it as a mark of imperfection, which detracts from her ideas regarding Hooper as a perfect individual. The veil might possibly even be a sign of a secret sin which Hooper has committed, which has been intimated in rumors spreading through the village, which concerns

Hooper’s decision to don a veil and separate himself from his community, his love, and his ministry may or may not be sinful and wrong and may either cause him suffering by isolating him or may offer him a sort of perverse triumph by teaching his congregation about its own flaws. On his deathbed, Hooper speaks about the meaning of the veil to him, “‘Why do you tremble at me alone?’ cried he, turning his veiled face round the circle of pale spectators. ‘Tremble also at each other! Have men avoided me, and women shown no pity, and children screamed and fled, only for my black veil?’….I look around me, and lo! on every visage a Black Veil!’” (page 465). The veil has clearly influenced Hooper’s ability to see the truth or reality of another person in several ways. First, the veil literally prevents him from seeing others without the dark tint provided by the veil and prevents all people from seeing his face. Second, Hooper is unable to interact socially and therefore know the truth of other people because the veil terrifies the population of the town and causes the townspeople to ostracize him. Last, and most importantly, the veil isolates Hooper spiritually from all others. The veil represents Hooper’s belief that he has spiritual knowledge superior to the