“The Minister’s Black Veil” by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Are you afraid of masks?

Is it the mask that you fear…

…or what the mask hides?

“Shadows of the Imagination” Focus: “Shadows of the Imagination” This story takes place in a gloomy world inhabited by people haunted by guilt. What role does imagination play in the story? Are the people in the story victims of their own imaginations?

Allegory Parable A work of literature in which events characters, and detail of setting have a symbolic meaning. A character in an allegory may personify a single human trait. Story is intended to be read on two levels Literal Figurative A relatively short story that teaches a moral or lesson about how to lead a good life Appear mostly in the Bible (told by Jesus)

Techniques Symbolism- The black veil symbolizes all of the Puritan superstitions. It represents all the evil and troubles in the world. To Puritans it was seen as a symbol of the devil. It was also seen as all that is unknown in the world; a mystery to the people. Rhetorical Question- Hawthorne uses this to further emphasis his point. In the story he wants to show Hooper as a man who can not bear to go without the veil, "Could Mr. Hooper be fearful of her glance, that he so hastily caught back the black veil?" In this quote it shows that he is afraid that even a dead person will see his face.

Techniques Personification- This is another technique used to give the veil human-like qualities. It makes the veil almost have a personality which strengthens the mystery and fear of the veil, "It shook with his measured breath, as he gave out the psalm; it threw its obscurity between him and the holy page" (pg. 338). The veil obviously could not physically throw something, but it enriches Hawthorne’s language. Irony- This technique is shown throughout this short story by the man wearing the black veil. It is ironic how people think that because he is wearing a veil that he has something to hide, and he does. Also, during the short story, it seems to building up to a big revealing of his secret, but instead nothing is ever revealed, and his secret will stay a secret forever.

Vocabulary Semblance – outward appearance Venerable – commanding respect Iniquity – sin Indecorous – improper Ostentatious – intended to attract notice Sagacious – shrewd Vagary – unpredictable occurrence Tremulous – characterized by trembling Waggery – mischievous humor Impertinent – not showing proper respect Obstinacy - stubbornness Semblance – outward appearance Obscurity – darkness Portend – signify Pensively – thinking deeply or seriously Antipathy – strong dislike Plausibility – believability Resolute - determined

Summary: In this allegory, Parson Hooper, a highly respected minister in a small Puritan community, suddenly appears wearing a black veil. The veil has such a powerful, gloomy effect on his parishioners; they are stunned, so much so that they cannot ask him directly why he wears it. Even his fiancée turns from him. The veil’s symbolic meaning – secret sin – is revealed through the remarks and actions of Hooper’s parishioners and in his own deathbed explanation. Make note of the symbols and the meanings implied in this parable.

Reverend Hooper (The Minister)— A very calm and quite unremarkable minister in the small town, he suddenly and without explanation begins to wear a black veil that covers his eyes and nose. This is not met with acceptance in the strictly Puritan community and the townspeople grow frightened of this man they used to trust. His reasons are obscure throughout most of the story and he is a mysterious character both to the reader and the other characters. In general, however, he seems to feel that the veil symbolizes sin and he reminds others that they too are wearing a veil of sorts. He dies without allowing anyone to remove the veil and is buried wearing it. Reverend Hooper (The Minister)—

Elizabeth She was Reverend Hooper’s fiancée until he refused to take the veil off in her presence. She was the only one in the town who was not afraid of him but could not take the fact that he wouldn’t allow her to see his face ever again, especially since she does not fully understand his reasoning. She disappears throughout most of the story after she leaves him but is shown again at the end as being an attendant at his deathbed.

Reverend Clark Reverend Clark is a young minister from Westbury who comes to Reverend Hooper’s deathbed to pray for him. He encourages Hooper to take off the veil before he is interred in the ground but Hooper shocks him (and everyone else present) with his strength as he refuses to have the veil taken off.

The Townspeople The people of the town are highly religious and are very nervous about the change in their normally quiet and unassuming minister, Reverend Hooper. They are not accepting of change and act with superstition about the black veil, claiming to witness supernatural events revolving around Hooper. Being fearful of God, however, they put even more stock into Hooper after his transformation and both revere and shun him simultaneously. The only person in town who does not appear to behave in such a way is Elizabeth.