An Analysis of Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Minister's Black V
Typically, a story, whether short or long does not reveal its total focus or even hint at its theme until, usually, at least midway through its discourse. To do so would distract the reader from focusing on the story as a whole and, instead, pre-focus the reader on single mindedly tracking the theme, which is not necessarily a bad thing. When using parables the intention to pre-focus the reader is usually very clear, becoming evident within the title itself and even more-so within some highly-stressed element of the story. The title of this story, as well as the black veil itself, seem to remain the most significant tools utilized by the author to communicate this story's theme. The title "The Minister's Black Veil", while being both literal and metaphorical in its meaning, seems to accomplish a few major things in its relation to the rest of the story. For one, it cle
The veil itself is nothing more than a female clothing accessory, but when it is used to shade the countenance of an otherwise blameless and upright man it becomes a veil of "dark sorrows" and "hidden sin"; something we can all relate to. A fellow towns-woman of Mr. Hooper ventures to say at one point "How strange that a simple black veil...should become such a terrible thing on Mr. Hooper's face." (Nathaniel Hawthorne - Selected Tales & Sketches, 189). In spite of the veil being a weighty and loathsome burden to the minister he does, however, manage to, at times, offer up a sad and obscure smile. "He even smiled again-that same sad smile, which always appeared like a faint glimmering of light, proceeding from the obscurity beneath the veil" (194). The veil robs his social life of any semblance of normalcy or warmth, drowns his love life in lasting emptiness, and taints hi
Some common words found in the essay are:
Black Veil, Tales Sketches, , black veil, pre-focus reader, story's theme,
Approximate Word count = 595
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)
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