Robert Mines AP English 4 9/11/11 2nd Essay: The Ministers Black Veil I look around me, and, lo!

on every visage a Black Veil! proclaimed the Reverend Mr. Hooper with his dying breath. In The Ministers Black Veil, Nathaniel Hawthorne tells the story of how Reverend Mr. Hooper adorned himself with a mysterious black veil in order to enlighten the reader about mans secret sins. Reverend Hoopers black veils serves as a constant reminder of his secret sin and the secret sins of humanity and also demonstrates how he is unable to forgive himself due to the extremity of his religious beliefs, and, eventually, the black veil leads to his total disconnection from the rest of society. Mr. Hooper initially wears the veil as a visual symbol associated with his secret sin. Mr. Hooper had on a black veil. On a nearer view, it seemed to consist of two folds of crape, which entirely concealed his features (Hawthorne, p 408). Essentially, this gauze-like veil represents the shroud of darkness the reverend has found himself trapped in literally and metaphorically. The veil is representative of both the masks people use to hide their sins from the world but also the darkness and inner turmoil of one who has not confessed his or her sins as demonstrated by Hooper when he said, Oh you know not how lonely I am, and how frightened to be alone behind my black veil. Do not leave me in this miserable obscurity forever (Hawthorne, p 413). Additionally, Hoopers veil is the basis for multiple Biblical allusions throughout the short story. First, the veil connects the character of Reverend Hooper to the Jewish leader Moses. After looking upon the glory of God, Mosess face glowed with a supernatural light, and the fear it invoked in his followers caused him to adorn a black veil over his face. While Hawthorne included this parallel, Hawthorne most likely did this to create irony within the text. In contrast to Moses, Hoopers veil and its hidden meaning invoked fear in his congregation. Hawthorne even states, Yet perhaps the pale-faced congregation was almost as fearful a sight to the minister, as his black veil to them (Hawthorne, p 409) to demonstrate the congregations horror at this symbol. Most likely, this allusion was included to show that even great leaders have secret sins. However, the veil could also allude to the torn veil at the Temple in Jerusalem. When Jesuss crucifixion was complete, the veil in the Temple was torn in half supernaturally as a symbol that all men could finally communicate with God. However, Christianity teaches that sin puts a barrier between God and the sinner until the sinner repents. This meaning of the veil can be inferred because Hooper says, hereafter there shall be no veil over my face, no darkness between our souls! It is but a mortal veil- it is not for eternity! (Hawthorne, p 413) suggesting that after the Final Judgment, when his sins are exposed to all humanity, his veil can be cast off. However, just as the veil once separated man totally from God, the veil will separate him from God for the remainder of his life because his strong Puritanical beliefs will make it hard for him to accept forgiveness.

Also, there is an interesting juxtaposition between the veil and Hoopers attire and personality. Hawthorne characterizes Hooper as a gentlemanly person of about thirty who was dressed with due clerical neatness, as if a careful wife had starched his band, and brushed the weekly dust from his Sundays garb but chooses to wear the black veil (Hawthorne, p 408). The veil significantly clashes with and contrasts the rest of Hoopers attire. Additionally, the veil conveys a sense of foreboding that is also a direct contrast to Hoopers generally friendly and gentlemanly attire. Besides the veil, Hooper was arrayed just as nicely and would seem to be as nice as anyone in the congregation was. Essentially, Hawthorne is saying that outward appearances can be deceptive when judging someones inner character and also suggests that the members of the congregation, like Hooper, had their own secret sins. Lastly, the veil leads to Hoopers total disconnection with society. As time passed by, the veil caused Hooper to be the source of many rumors. At the close of the services, the people hurried out with indecorous confusion, eager to communicate their pent-up amazement the moment they lost sight of the black veil (Hawthorne, p 409). Just as Hesters scarlet letter and Dimmesdales act of placing his hand on his chest became the source of societal wonder and curiosity in The Scarlet Letter, Hoopers veil became a similar object of discussion. As time went by, the veil like the scarlet letter was believed to have some foreboding connection to the supernatural and further drove the townspeople away from Hooper with time. Likewise, one sees similar situations in modern times as how O.J. Simpsons glove has become a symbol of O.J.s crime. However, there is parallelism between Hoopers separation from society and Hoopers spiritual state. Over time, Hooper became more and more estranged from society. At first, people simply were made uncomfortable by it, but as time progressed, Hooper lost his fiance, and by the time he died, only a few people stayed with him during his last hours despite the fact he was a famous minister. His veil, a symbol of some mysterious and unknown sin, came between him and society. Likewise, his secret sin came between him and God. Reverend Hoopers black veil serves as a reminder of his secret sin and the secret sins of all men, and this symbol eventually led to his estrangement with society. Edgar Allen Poe said that Hoopers internal conflict arose from a crime of dark dye when critiquing The Ministers Black Veil. Today, many still commit these crimes of dark dye and will continue to commit them such as O.J. Simpson, Caylee Anthony, and many others have. On every visage, a Black Veil still resides (Hawthorne, p 415). Everyone is still susceptible to such sins, and, sadly, many will live with their Black Veils until their judgment day. While Hawthorne presented a view of Christianity where forgiveness is unattainable, today, this religion is much different. Today, anyone can receive the grace of God, and any and everyone can remove their black veils and return to the light.