- Full Title: The Minister’s Black Veil
- When Written: 1836
- Where Written: Beacon Hill, Boston
- When Published: 1836
- Literary Period: American Romanticism
- Genre: Short story; parable
- Setting: Milford, a Puritan town in Massachusetts
- Climax: Reverend Hooper revealing why he wore the veil on his deathbed
- Antagonist: The townspeople of Milford
What is the Minister's Black Veil about?
Nathaniel Hawthorne 's The Minister's Black Veil (1832) is a fascinating parable about hiding behind appearances instead of following our consciences. How would your friends react if you started wearing a veil to school?
What is the setting of the Minister's Black Veil by Hawthorne?
The setting of " The Minister's Black Veil " is the town of Milford, somewhere in New England, which we know from a footnote in which Hawthorne says that "another clergyman of New England" made himself famous for adopting the same "eccentricity" as Reverend Hooper.
Is Reverend Hooper in the Minister's Black Veil?
Reverend Hooper's sermon in the short story was the launching point of the dramatic work The Minister's Black Veil by Socìetas Raffaello Sanzio (2016), directed by Romeo Castellucci, with Willem Dafoe as Reverend Hooper, text by Claudia Castellucci and original music and sound design by Scott Gibbons . ^ Nelson, Randy F.
What is the setting of the Minister's black veil quizlet?
The setting is the New England village of Milford Connecticut during the Duritan era. The story covers the span of Rev. Hooper's adult life.
Why is the setting important in the Minister's black veil?
However, this emphasis on the physical setting is not always present, as in “The Minister's Black Veil.” Instead, Hawthorne here used primarily the psychological setting of the characters (and most of all with Parson Hooper) to create this masterpiece work that creates just as much an impact - if not more so -- than ...
What is Mr Hooper secret sin?
First, character reveals that the minister's secret sin is adultery. When Reverend Hooper's fiancée ask him why he chooses to wear the black veil he fails to give an answer. His refusal to provide an explanation reveals that his character is secretive.
What is the name of the village in the Minister's black veil?
For the Earth, too, had on her Black Veil. The next day, the whole village of Milford talked of little else than Parson Hooper's black veil. That, and the mystery concealed behind it, supplied a topic for discussion between acquaintances meeting in the street, and good women gossiping at their open windows.
What are the two major themes in The Minister's Black Veil?
Themes and Ideas to DiscussSin and Secrets. One theme found in “The Minister's Black Veil” is sin and secrets. ... Guilt. Another theme found in “The Minister's Black Veil” is guilt. ... Isolation. An additional theme found in “The Minister's Black Veil” is isolation. ... The Black Veil.
What is the main theme of the Minister's Black Veil?
secret sinIts primary theme is secret sin, which is symbolized by the veil that Mr. Hooper wears. We learn at the end that the veil actually suggests that we all have secret sins.
What reasons does Hooper give Elizabeth not to desert him?
Due to his refusal to remove the veil, Hooper risks his relationship with his fiancee, Elizabeth. He wants Elizabeth to have patience with him and not desert him during this time because it will not be for eternity but he does not want to lift the veil.
What does Hooper's veil symbolize?
Symbols. The black veil is a symbol of secret sin and how terrible human nature can be. This could represent the secret sin that all people carry in their hearts, or it could be a representation of Mr. Hooper's specific sin, which some readers think to be adultery.
What happened at the end of the black veil?
''The Minister's Black Veil'' concludes with Reverend Hooper passing away in his bed at home surrounded by several members of his congregation.
What is the plot of The minister's black veil?
The story features a minister who addresses his congregation with a veil over his eyes and nose. People are scared by him; however, it turns out that his new appearance makes him a better preacher. In the end, the minister suggests that we are all wearing veils, and dies with the veil intact.
Who are the characters in The minister's black veil?
The Minister's Black Veil CharactersReverend Hooper. The protagonist of “The Minister's Black Veil,” Hooper is a young, mild-mannered preacher in the town of Milford. ... Elizabeth. Elizabeth is Hooper's fiancée at the beginning of the story. ... The young woman.
What do the villagers think is the reason their pastor wears the veil?
What do the villagers think is the reason their pastors wears the veil? He has secret sins and the congregation started making rumors up.
What does the town people say about Hooper's veil?
The townspeople mutter their disapproval of Hooper ’s black veil. The sexton says he doesn’t feel as if Hooper’s face is really behind the veil, and others wonder if Hooper has gone mad. Hooper delivers his sermon, wearing his veil the entire time, almost as if he is trying to hide from God.
Why does Elizabeth ask Hooper to remove the veil?
When Elizabeth asks him to remove the veil and explain why he has been wearing it, Hooper replies that he has enough to be sorry about to merit a black veil. Elizabeth advises Hooper that the town will think that Hooper has committed a “secret sin,” and encourages him to remove it for the sake of his job.
What does it mean when Hooper keeps his veil on?
When he keeps it on, it suggests that he is sacrificing his own pleasure for the sake of the veil, even if it’s not clear why. Active Themes.
Why did the townspeople leave the church?
The townspeople leave the church, eager to discuss Hooper’s veil. Some “profane the Sabbath day” by laughing at it; some maintain that Hooper has weak eyes and needs to restore his sight. The town physician says that Hooper may be losing his mind, and adds that he looks ghostly.
Why does Elizabeth fear the veil?
Elizabeth begins to fear Hooper’s veil, perhaps because she is afraid of what it symbolizes — the sin in all human beings. Hooper’s plea for Elizabeth to stay shows the extent of his sacrifice, and give his decision to wear the veil great poignancy. He knows the veil is going to sentence him to a life of loneliness.
Why are the townspeople constantly being watched by one another?
The townspeople are constantly being watched by one another, consistent with the importance they place on behavior as a signifier of one’s worthiness for heaven. Within seconds of the sexton’s noticing Hooper’s changed appearance, everyone is looking at him.
What does the dying man cry about?
With his dying words, he cries that he can only be considered a monster when friends reveal their “inmost hearts” to their friends, when lovers do the same to their beloveds, and when people don’t try in vain to hide their sins from God. He looks around, he says, and sees a black veil on everyone’s face!
When was the Minister's Black Veil published?
" The Minister's Black Veil " is a short story written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. It was first published in the 1836 edition of The Token and Atlantic Souvenir, edited by Samuel Goodrich. It later appeared in Twice-Told Tales, ...
Who is buried with the black veil?
As he dies, those around him tremble. He tells them in anger not to tremble, not merely for him but for themselves, for they all wear black veils. Father Hooper is buried with the black veil on his face.
What is the benefit of the veil?
The one positive benefit of the veil is that Mr. Hooper becomes a more efficient clergyman, gaining many converts who feel that they too are behind the black veil with him. Dying sinners call out for him alone. Mr. Hooper lives his life thus, though he is promoted to Father, until his death.
What is the veil on Mr Hooper's face?
Hooper comes into sight. However, the congregation is met with an unusual sight: Mr. Hooper is wearing a black semi-transparent veil that obscures all of his face but his mouth and chin from view.
What is the veil symbol in the story?
While the veil is the main symbol in the story, it is also ironic. Hooper, in his stubborn use of the veil parable of one sin, is unconsciously guilty of a greater sin: that of egotistically warping the total meaning of life.
Why does Hooper use the black veil?
John H. Timmerman notes that because of Hawthorne's writing style Hooper's insistent use of the black ve il, Hooper stands as one of his arch-villains. This is from Hooper's act of separating himself from the rest of humanity and denying his love for Elizabeth in favor of the veil.
What is the sermon about Mr. Hooper?
As he takes the pulpit, Mr. Hooper's sermon is on secret sin and is "tinged, rather more darkly than usual, with the gentle gloom of Mr. Hooper's temperament". This topic concerns the congregation who fear for their own secret sins as well as ...
Who wrote the minister's black veil?
A Summary and Analysis of Nathaniel Hawthorne ’s ‘The Minister’s Black Veil’. ‘The Minister’s Black Veil’ is one of the best-known and most widely studied short stories written by the American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne. Subtitled ‘A Parable’, the story originally appeared in a gift book titled The Token and Atlantic Souvenir in 1836, ...
What is the theme of the story of the black veil?
The key theme of the story, above all others, is sin. More specifically, the black veil which Hooper adopts represents ‘secret sin’ , a phrase which recurs a number of times in this short tale. Curiously, Hawthorne was inspired to write the story by reading about a real-life case of a Revd. Joseph Moody (1700-53), who became known as ‘Handkerchief ...
Why does Hooper tell Clark to not be scared of his veil?
When he is confronted about it, Hooper tells them that they should not be scared by his veil alone, because when he looks at them, they are all wearing black veils too.
Why does Hooper commit the sin of pride?
And some critics of Hawthorne’s story have detected an irony at work: in making his veil a supposed symbol for the sin that lurks within mankind, Hooper actually commits the sin of pride, because by wearing such a symbol he is making a virtue out of something designed to humble the wearer. In other words, in his determination to show how virtuously ...
What does the narrator tell us about Hooper's first sermon?
The narrator tells us of Hooper’s first sermon, on the day he first appears in public with the veil on: The subject had reference to secret sin and those sad mysteries which we hide from our nearest and dearest, and would fain conceal from our own consciousness, even forgetting that the Omniscient can detect them.
What is the sermon that Mr Hooper is preaching?
Hooper’s sermon that day is on ‘secret sin’ . After the sermon, Hooper continues to wear the veil while officiating at the funeral of a young woman, and then, the same night, at a wedding. Nobody dares to confront Mr Hooper about his sudden decision to start concealing himself behind the black veil – except one person, his wife-to-be, Elizabeth.
Why did Moody wear a black veil?
Moody accidentally killed a friend when he was a young man and took to wearing a black veil as penance for the rest of his life. This historical case may have provided the germ of the story, but Hawthorne constructs a far more symbolic tale from it.
Who is the minister in the black veil?
As they’re settling into their seats, the sexton points out Milford’s young minister, Reverend Hooper, walking thoughtfully toward the church. Hooper is wearing a black veil that covers his entire face except for his mouth and chin.
What is Hooper's veil?
Hooper is wearing a black veil that covers his entire face except for his mouth and chin. This sight disturbs and perplexes the townspeople, and some think that Hooper has gone insane, but when he delivers his sermon for the day, they are unusually moved.
Why does Hooper's veil hang down?
As he bends over the body, which belonged to a young woman, his veil hangs down, so that the woman could see his face if she were alive — Hooper quickly covers his face again.
What does Hooper do in the night?
In the night, Hooper performs a wedding for a young couple. He catches a glimpse of himself in a mirror, and is so terrified by his own appearance that he spills the ceremonial wine on the carpet and rushes out of the church. Get the entire The Minister’s Black Veil LitChart as a printable PDF.
What is the minister's black veil?
Nathaniel Hawthorne 's The Minister's Black Veil (1832) is a fascinating parable about hiding behind appearances instead of following our consciences. How would your friends react if you started wearing a veil to school?
Why does the reverend wear the veil?
Irony - The reverend wears the veil to represent others' secret sins and tries to teach them to reveal their consciousness, but in the process alienates everyone, including his own fiance , Elizabeth
Why did Hooper refuse to remove his veils?
The reverend never waivered in his convictions; he refused to remove it in his attempt to teach his parishioners to reveal their own true selves. Ironically, though the parishioners should have been the ones wearing veils, Hooper sacrificed himself on their behalf, suffering isolation, despair, and heartbreak.
Where is the Puritan story set?
The story, written in 1832, is set in a Puritan (Prote stant) village in New England, Milford, Massachusetts. Puritans left England for the New World to escape persecution and judgement in the hands of others in power.
Who is the clergyman in Twice-Told Tales?
As an interesting footnote to the story, published in Hawthorne's book Twice-Told Tales: "Another clergyman in New England, Mr. Joseph Moody, of York, Maine, who died about eighty years since, made himself remarkable by the same eccentricity that is here related of the Reverend Mr. Hooper.
Who is the oldest member of the congregation?
Old Squire Saunders - Probably the oldest of the congregation who has a reserved special chair in the center of the meeting-house, after service where the reverend first adorned his veil, Saunders "neglected to invite Mr. Hooper to his table, where the good clergyman had been wont to bless the food, almost every Sunday since his settlement.".
What is the study guide for Minister's Black Veil?
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics.
Who asks Mr. Hooper to remove the veil?
They begin to shun him on the street, and children chase each other pretending to be him. When his fiancée, Elizabeth, asks him to remove the veil, Mr. Hooper insists that the veil must separate him from all other people, including her, and that one day, they all must remove their veils.
Why does Mr Hooper wear the veil?
Mr. Hooper surprises the people by continuing to wear the veil even as he officiates a funeral and a wedding. The people gossip about him, most believing that the veil reflects a grave sin. A group of congregants attempt to ask him why he is wearing it, but they are fearful and intimidated in his presence.
Why does Elizabeth leave Mr Hooper?
Mr. Hooper, exclaiming how lonely he is behind his veil, begs her to remain with him. However, when he reiterates that he can never remove the veil, Elizabeth leaves him.
Where is Mr Hooper in the Bible?
One Sunday, in the town of Milford, Massachusetts, Mr. Hooper, a young parson, surprises his congregants when he emerges wearing a black veil that covers all but his mouth and chin. The people are unnerved by the veil, which seems to separate him from the rest of the world.
Where is the Scarlet Letter set?
Hawthorne, author of the novel The Scarlet Letter, is known for exploring Puritanism in his works, which typically are set in New England. Hawthorne himself was born in Salem, Massachusetts, and was descended from John Hathorne, one of the judges in the Salem witch trials. Embarrassed by his ancestor’s role in the trials, ...
Who asks if he is ready to lift the veil?
When Reverend Clark asks if he is ready to lift the veil, Mr. Hooper summons his strength and sits up in bed, adamantly refusing to allow them to remove it. He asks why people have always avoided him when every person in fact wears their own black veil every day.
What is the Minister's Black Veil?
American Romanticism - “The Minister’s Black Veil” contains many of the elements of the American Romanticism literary movement, a movement that championed the individual and was fascinated with death and the supernatural. American Romantic writers often delved on the secrets of the human heart and soul.
Who is the broken minister in the Scarlet Letter?
Reverend Hooper is a broken minister - this angle begs for a comparison with Hawthorne’s other famous minister, the Reverend Dimmesdale from the Scarlet Letter.
What does Reverend Hooper preach about?
He delivers a sermon on secret sin and the things people hide in their hearts, “even forgetting the Omniscient can detect them.”. After the meeting, the congregation discusses the minister’s veil, trying to interpret its meaning.
What happens after the meeting with the congregation?
After the meeting, the congregation discusses the minister’s veil, trying to interpret its meaning. The Reverend presents a funeral sermon and a wedding while wearing the veil, much to the dismay and disconcernment of the bride. The entire town speaks of little else the next day.
Overview
Analysis
Like many of Hawthorne's works, the setting of the story is a town in Puritan New England. The scene provides the backdrop for a psychological exploration of the themes of sin, repentance, and morality. Much of the story focuses on the acrimonious reaction of the congregation to the seemingly benign veil. Hawthorne uses their reaction as a critique of the Puritan image of original sin, …
Plot summary
The story begins with the sexton standing in front of the meeting-house, ringing the bell. He is to stop ringing the bell when the Reverend Mr. Hooper comes into sight. However, the congregation is met with an unusual sight: Mr. Hooper is wearing a black semi-transparent veil that obscures all of his face but his mouth and chin from view. This creates a stir among the townspeople, who begin to speculate about his veil and its significance. As he takes the pulpit, Mr. Hooper's sermo…
Development and publication history
Hawthorne may have been inspired by a true event. A clergyman named Joseph Moody of York, Maine, nicknamed "Handkerchief Moody", accidentally killed a friend when he was a young man and wore a black veil from the man's funeral until his own death.
The story was published as "The Minister's Black Veil, a Parable" and credited "by the author of Sights from a Steeple" in The Token and Atlantic Souvenir for 1836; the issue also included Hawt…
Critical response
When the story was published in Twice-Told Tales, an anonymous reviewer in the Boston Daily Advertiser for March 10, 1837, noted that he preferred "the grace and sweetness of such papers as 'Little Annie's Ramble,' or 'A Rill from the Town-pump,' to those of a more ambitious cast, and in which the page glows with a wider and more fearful interest, like 'The Minister's Black Veil' and 'Dr. Heidegger's Experiment.'" Edgar Allan Poe offered a few critiques of Nathaniel Hawthorne's tales. …
Legacy and adaptations
Reverend Hooper's sermon in the short story was the launching point of the dramatic work The Minister's Black Veil by Socìetas Raffaello Sanzio (2016), directed by Romeo Castellucci, with Willem Dafoe as Reverend Hooper, text by Claudia Castellucci and original music and sound design by Scott Gibbons.
External links
• Full summary and analysis of The Minister's Black Veil
• The Minister's Black Veil at American Literature
• The Minister's Black Veil at Eldritch Press
• "The Minister's Black Veil: Symbol, Meaning and the Context of Hawthorne's Art