Reflection over The MInister's Black Veil

First I want to start off by saying that I truly enjoyed reading this story. From the very beginning it captured my attention when it said ""But what has good Parson Hooper got upon his face?" cried the sexton in astonishment. All within hearing immediately turned about, and beheld the semblance of Mr. Hooper, pacing slowly his meditative way towards the meeting-house. With one accord they started, expressing more wonder than if some strange minister were coming to dust the cushions of Mr. Hooper's pulpit."Are you sure it is our parson?" inquired Goodman Gray of the sexton."" (Hawthorne) This statement made me want to keep reading to learn what was really over their beloved ministers face. Come to find out it was a black veil, like a women might wear. This shocked the people of the town and intrigued me as the reader. This idea of mystery and dark sadness is a symbol of dark romanticism. This makes the story very mysterious because the minister does not move the veil or allow his face to be shown at all, not even at the end on his death bed. Nathanial Hawthorne did a fantastic job on giving the veil a very realistic feel to it, it almost gave it a life. This is a huge example of personification. The also makes the story very eery and unnerving keeping the dark romanticism style very much in tact. Hawthorne also displays dark romanticism when he writes "And thus speaking, the Reverend Mr. Clark bent forward to reveal the mystery of so many years. But, exerting a sudden energy, that made all the beholders stand aghast, Father Hooper snatched both his hands from beneath the bedclothes, and pressed them strongly on the black veil, resolute to struggle, if the minister of Westbury would contend with a dying man. "Never!" cried the veiled clergyman. "On earth, never!"" (Hawthorne) This displays dark romanticism because it gives the story a true terrifying reveal to a long life of sorrow. This man will never reveal his face and that in itself lets your mind wonder and imagine what he looks like. One huge characteristic of dark romanticism is imagination. Critical Companion to Nathaniel Hawthorne: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion says “Since the character himself never reveals the mystery of the black veil, readers have been forced to propose their own theories. Edgar Allan Poe, as well as other critics, have suggested that Hooper wears the veil as penance for a "specific sin," perhaps connected with the young woman whose funeral he conducts. Other theories are that the veil symbolizes the sins of his congregation, but that in the end it has made him a monster, severing his link with humanity.” (Wright) Showing how imagination in the story is displayed. The story is fantastic on displaying how you can let your mind wander to scary fantasies of what could be in the story. This makes the story more interesting and makes me truly love “The Minister’s Black Veil”.

Hawthorne,, Nathaniel. "The Minister's Black Veil, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1836." Eldritch Press. Twice Told Tales. Web. 23 Jan. 2012.

Wright, Sarah Bird. "'The Minister's Black Veil'." Critical Companion to Nathaniel Hawthorne: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= CCNH403&SingleRecord=True (accessed January 23, 2012).