The Black Veil
The Black Veil by Nathaniel Hawthorne is about a young minister, Mr. Hooper. He is a young Puritan minister who at first seems like every minister. But all of a sudden he starts wearing a black face that covers most of his face. First of all, Mr. Hooper is a Puritan minister in a Puritan community. Puritans came to the colonies seeking refuge from the corrupt English church and freedom to worth ship as they will. On important factor of the Puritan religions is togetherness. Togetherness is a strong concept since they believed that by sticking together, they can accomplish anything. By Mr. Hooper wearing the black veil he is isolating himself from the community.
“Strange and bewildered looks repaid him for his courtesy. None: as on former occasions, aspired the honor of walking by his their pastor’s side. Old Squire Saunders, doubtless by an accidental lapse of memory, 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.”
Another example of trust is between Mr. Hooper and young fiancée Elizabeth. Elizabeth doesn’t like the veil and she pleads Mr. Hooper to take it off. He explains that the black veil is now part of him in both body and mind. Elizabeth gets upset and leaves him. The black veil disturbed Elizabeth so much that some of her trust in him faded. Thus, Mr. Hooper is alone for the rest of his life.
In this quote, Nathaniel is displaying an example of how people are beginning to avoid Mr. Hooper. Nathaniel Hawthorne also uses a black veil. A veil is often use if you want to hide your face. But the chosen of color is what makes the difference. The veil that Mr. Hooper wears is black. Black is often use for mourning or a symbol or sadness or evil. By choosing black Nathaniel Hawthorne is displaying a trait of Gothicism. Gothicism is use to emphasize the negativity of life.
Such was the effect of this simple crepe, that more than one woman of delicate nerves was forced to leave the meeting-house. Yet perhaps the pale-faced congregation was almost as fearful a sight to the minister, as his black veil to them.
The black veil caused people to be fearful. One example as demonstrate din the quote was that women need to be taken away. It also mentions that people were pale. A person is usually pale when they are sick or when they are frightened. In this case people were frightened. Other examples are show when people shunned him and when children run away. These actions followed him all the way to his deathbed. The black veil is also a symbol of spirits and death. One example is when a woman at a funeral says that she feels that the minister and the young lady are walking hand by hand. The young lady is of course dean, and the woman is referring to the young lady’s spirit, thus also another example of Gothicism.