Bell1Lexi BellProf. SalernoENG 251iApril 11, 2018The Dark Side“The Raven,”by Edgar Allen Poeand “The Minister’s Black Veil,”by Nathaniel Hawthorne are twostories that indicate howmorbid humanity can really be.Hawthorne’s writingsfocus on the good and evilin life. In “The Minister’s Black Veil,” he acknowledges the congregation’s unawarenessand opinions of theirsin.Poe focusesmost of his work around death and sorrow.Because of this, “The Raven” is often dismissed as a cynicalcreation;butPoe uses it to show the human need to find meaning in something that is meaningless.While both authors are Dark Romantics, they bothusedifferent points of view, symbolism, themesthroughout their different pieces of work. Hawthornewas able to use an omniscient
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In “The Minister’s Black Veil,” the veilsymbolizes thesin of which we all carry and was used to send a message to the congregation.The members of the congregation are offended by the minister wearing the veil because it reminds them of their own sin.“And if I cover it for secret sin what mortal might not do the same”(Hawthorne 641). Poe often writes about depression, which he associates with lossand sorrow.In “The Raven,” the most apparentsymbol is found in the title. The bird'sdarkness symbolizes death andtheloss of his love. “Eagerly I wished the morrow/ vainly I had sought to borrow/ Frommy books surcease of sorrow/ sorrow for the lost Lenore/ For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore/ Nameless here for evermore” (Lines 9-12). The raven shows up and reminds himof the fact that hewill “nevermore”see his love Lenore.The maintheme of “The Minister's Black Veil” is made clear in Mr. Hooper's dying words: “on every visage a black veil” (Hawthorne 644).The veil, he explains, is a symbol of the masks of deceit and sin that separate all individuals from facing themselves, their loved ones, and the divine spirit(Hawthorne 644). Hawthorne wanted us to realize that everyone carries their own sin, only he was brave enough to wear his for all to see. The minister paida high price for this lesson: hewas left to live a lonely life due to his decision.Poe’s “The Raven” has a theme of desperation throughout the poem. The
In “The Minister’s Black Veil,” the veilsymbolizes thesin of which we all carry and was used to send a message to the congregation.The members of the congregation are offended by the minister wearing the veil because it reminds them of their own sin.“And if I cover it for secret sin what mortal might not do the same”(Hawthorne 641). Poe often writes about depression, which he associates with lossand sorrow.In “The Raven,” the most apparentsymbol is found in the title. The bird'sdarkness symbolizes death andtheloss of his love. “Eagerly I wished the morrow/ vainly I had sought to borrow/ Frommy books surcease of sorrow/ sorrow for the lost Lenore/ For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore/ Nameless here for evermore” (Lines 9-12). The raven shows up and reminds himof the fact that hewill “nevermore”see his love Lenore.The maintheme of “The Minister's Black Veil” is made clear in Mr. Hooper's dying words: “on every visage a black veil” (Hawthorne 644).The veil, he explains, is a symbol of the masks of deceit and sin that separate all individuals from facing themselves, their loved ones, and the divine spirit(Hawthorne 644). Hawthorne wanted us to realize that everyone carries their own sin, only he was brave enough to wear his for all to see. The minister paida high price for this lesson: hewas left to live a lonely life due to his decision.Poe’s “The Raven” has a theme of desperation throughout the poem. The