Nathaniel Hawthorne writes a parable set in a small town in Milford, New England during the 16th century. His decision to go with a Puritan town plays a crucial role in understanding the story’s message. The Puritans were known for their obsession with sin and their effort to eliminate it from their lives through strict moral codes. Hawthorne can stress the importance of the message through by utilizing a town whose beliefs with contradict from the message. Therefore, allowing readers to really see the difference between what their perception and reality. With that said, the story begins with a cheerful and pleasant tone as families gather into the meeting house This merry merry atmosphere instantly vanishes the second they see Minister Hooper
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Later, his fiancé, Elizabeth, begs him to remove his mask, but Hooper refuses and believes no mortal can ever see his face. He reveals the veil is a symbol for the secret sins humans possess. Unsatisfied and fearful, Elizabeth leaves him. Hooper continues to wear this dark veil for the rest of his life. He lives a life of loneliness and in isolation for every seemed to flee at the sight of him. However, the veil did make him an efficient clerical. It seemed the veil’s dark power allowed him to connect with the sinners and those on their dying. On the day of his deathbed, he accuses everyone of wearing their own black veil upon their faces. In other words, they all wear a “veil” that hides their darkest sins. With these last words, Hooper dies and is buried with the veil still concealing his face. In this story, Hawthorne uses multiple literary elements such as irony, ambiguity, and imagery to convey this message of the secret sin living within us. The sins that we don’t want to admit because of the guilt that …show more content…
Once analyzing Hooper’s life, readers notice most of it was lonely, dark, and depressing. His obsession with the black veil consumed him and prevented him from enjoying what life offers. Although this story was written back in 1836, modern readers can still connect with Hooper, through their own obsessions and hidden sins, and look at Hooper’s life as an example of the “guy you don’t want to be.” Many people today are so fixated on the negative aspects in life that they invest all their energy in trying to fix whatever it may be. There is this thing called mindfulness, and it’s a state of being consciously aware of one’s emotions or experiences – and that’s it. It’s when an individual recognizes what they feel or what they are experiencing and simply accept that it’s there. In relation to Hooper, he should have recognized and accepted that hidden sins are a part of being human. This mindfulness can be applied to our lives as
Later, his fiancé, Elizabeth, begs him to remove his mask, but Hooper refuses and believes no mortal can ever see his face. He reveals the veil is a symbol for the secret sins humans possess. Unsatisfied and fearful, Elizabeth leaves him. Hooper continues to wear this dark veil for the rest of his life. He lives a life of loneliness and in isolation for every seemed to flee at the sight of him. However, the veil did make him an efficient clerical. It seemed the veil’s dark power allowed him to connect with the sinners and those on their dying. On the day of his deathbed, he accuses everyone of wearing their own black veil upon their faces. In other words, they all wear a “veil” that hides their darkest sins. With these last words, Hooper dies and is buried with the veil still concealing his face. In this story, Hawthorne uses multiple literary elements such as irony, ambiguity, and imagery to convey this message of the secret sin living within us. The sins that we don’t want to admit because of the guilt that …show more content…
Once analyzing Hooper’s life, readers notice most of it was lonely, dark, and depressing. His obsession with the black veil consumed him and prevented him from enjoying what life offers. Although this story was written back in 1836, modern readers can still connect with Hooper, through their own obsessions and hidden sins, and look at Hooper’s life as an example of the “guy you don’t want to be.” Many people today are so fixated on the negative aspects in life that they invest all their energy in trying to fix whatever it may be. There is this thing called mindfulness, and it’s a state of being consciously aware of one’s emotions or experiences – and that’s it. It’s when an individual recognizes what they feel or what they are experiencing and simply accept that it’s there. In relation to Hooper, he should have recognized and accepted that hidden sins are a part of being human. This mindfulness can be applied to our lives as