Nathaniel Hawthorne is known for his stories that exhibit religious hypocrisy, his short story "The Minister's Black Veil” tells of a Parson Hooper in 18th century New England who leaves the people of his town aghast when he emerges from his home on Sunday morning with a dismal, black crape veil obscuring his face. Hooper conducts church services as usual, however the macabre aura of the veil left attendees of his services uneasy and perplexed. Continuing to wear the veil, Parson Hooper refuses to elaborate upon its origin to anyone, including his fiancé, only revealing that it represents “secret sin” () On his death-bed, Hooper still refuses to remove or explain the veil, but after being irked by the same probing questions by other ministers,
