Hooper’s statement “I look around me, and, lo! On every visage a Black Veil!” suggests that the veil has a symbolic meaning. The statement means that a secret sin lies in the heart of every being. The color black contributes to the symbolic meaning. Black symbolizes mystery and is associated with fear and the unknown. From my understanding the veil that Hooper mentions symbolizes man’s innermost thoughts. The veil hides everyone’s innermost thoughts from the world regardless of whether they are good or bad thoughts. One cannot see the veil however it is there on everyone because everyone is hiding something. This is shown when he says “t- beloved; when man does not vainly shrink from the eye of his Creator, loathsomely treasuring up the secret
