themes in Nathaniel Hawthorne

Major Themes in the Minister’s Black Veil
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Major Themes in the Minister’s Black Veil
The Minister’s Black Veil is set in a Puritan village in New England back 1600s. Through this story, readers are able to get an insight into the author’s strong awareness of his Puritan history. The Puritans led a strict life in which religious devotion and hard work were very much emphasized. In the story, Hawthorne utilizes the black veil to symbolize the sinful nature of humankind. By making use of the Puritan setting, Hawthorne is able to show how even the most religious members of the society also engage in sinful activities. He brings to light several themes including secret sin, people’s reaction to change and isolation.
The theme of secret sin stands out as the biggest theme in The Minister’s Black Veil. The story starts with Mr. Hooper, a minister, presiding over a church service. However, Hooper is spotting a black veil that covers half of his face. The congregation is quite surprised by the minister’s decision to wear a black veil (Hawthorne, 1886). The veil emerges as a representation of Mr. Hooper’ sins which both the congregation and the readers never get to know. As times goes, the townspeople interest in what the black veil could be meaning increases. They start discussing about the possible sin the Minister could have done and for which he is determined to keep secret.
Another major theme that is evident in the story is people’s reaction to change.

The townspeople reaction to the minister’s change in his dressing code is quite interesting. They see nothing positive in the change and start gossiping that the minister might be insane or might be hiding something from them. The entire community shuns the minister simply because of a veil. Every other person in the town immediately starts seeing the minister as a gloomy and dark figure. Another theme closely related to this theme is isolation. The townspeople start isolating Mr. Hooper soon after he starts wearing the veil. Both parents and children refuse to respond to his greetings. Additionally, his partner, Elizabeth, decides to ditch him, pushing him even further away from the society (Hawthorne, 1886).
In conclusion, The Minister’s Black Veil showcases Hawthorne’s strong awareness of his Puritan history. The Puritans led a strict life in which religious devotion and hard work were very much emphasized. The author brings to light several themes including secret sin, people’s reaction to change and isolation. With regard to secret sin, the veil emerges as a representation of Mr. Hooper’ sins which both the congregation and the readers never get to know. The theme of how people react to change is shown in the way the people view nothing positive in the change and start gossiping that the minister might be insane or might be hiding something from them.
Reference
Hawthorne, N. (1886). The Minister’s Black Veil. Booklassic.