Gothic literature is a variety of different traditions. From the Romantic era to the present day reading of gothic literature, you would see the characteristics in the literature of authors from England and South of United States. After reading gothic literature you tend acknowledge the devices and characteristics of gothic literature “ The Haunted Mind” and “The Minister’s Veil” by Nathaniel Hawthorne best fits the criteria for a gothic literature. Gothic literature is a type of literature that uses devices such as settings, moods, and symbolism to help you understand the theme. This literature is a combination of both horror and romance. Most writings that are gothic literature are dark, startling and melodramatic, with a creepy
…show more content…
Like many of Hawthorne’s stories, it peers into the darkness in the human soul. The story is about a minister who, to the surprise of his worshippers, begins wearing a black veil over his face. Everyone is puzzled and a bit terrified by the minister's veil, and yet no one can work up the courage to ask him not to wear it. Mr. Hooper’s black veil, which he wears as a symbol of his own sinful nature, comes in the end to represent the guilt of human beings more generally. It seems that Mr. Hooper’s personal demons and guilt is what pushed him to wear the black veil, as well as in his deathbed. “That mysterious emblem was never once withdrawn. It shook with his measured breath, as he gave out the psalm; it threw its obscurity between him and the holy page, as he read the Scriptures; and while he prayed the veil lay heavily on his uplifted countenance. Did he seek to hide it from the dread being whom he was addressing?”It’s like he hid behind the black veil of guilt that he worn, but fail to acknowledge. The black veil demonstrated how shallow and appreciative people can be, based off of this quote “Such was the effect of this simple piece of crape, 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.” because ever since he worn the black veil everyone who liked before he started to wear it shunned
Like many of Hawthorne’s stories, it peers into the darkness in the human soul. The story is about a minister who, to the surprise of his worshippers, begins wearing a black veil over his face. Everyone is puzzled and a bit terrified by the minister's veil, and yet no one can work up the courage to ask him not to wear it. Mr. Hooper’s black veil, which he wears as a symbol of his own sinful nature, comes in the end to represent the guilt of human beings more generally. It seems that Mr. Hooper’s personal demons and guilt is what pushed him to wear the black veil, as well as in his deathbed. “That mysterious emblem was never once withdrawn. It shook with his measured breath, as he gave out the psalm; it threw its obscurity between him and the holy page, as he read the Scriptures; and while he prayed the veil lay heavily on his uplifted countenance. Did he seek to hide it from the dread being whom he was addressing?”It’s like he hid behind the black veil of guilt that he worn, but fail to acknowledge. The black veil demonstrated how shallow and appreciative people can be, based off of this quote “Such was the effect of this simple piece of crape, 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.” because ever since he worn the black veil everyone who liked before he started to wear it shunned