A Literary Analysis of the Ministers Black Veil

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 disclosure. To do so would distract the reader from focusing on the story as a whole and, Instead, refocus the reader on single-mindedly tracking the theme, which is not necessarily a bad thing. When using parables the intention to refocus the reader is usually very clear, becoming evident Within the title itself and even more so within some highly- stressed elements 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 storys theme. The title The Ministers Black Veil, while being both literal and metaphorical in its meaning, seems to accomplish a few major things in relation to the rest of the story. For one, it clearly illustrates the subject and focal point of the story.

It also isolates one character, the minister, for the reader to further examine and scrutinize. In addition, it shows the reader where to focus his or her attention if they are to grasp the story theme this could be called a nudge in the right direction. I suppose, within this story, there is no more prominent a focal point than that which is fore mentioned in the title, I the black veil. It is an object to be closely examined so as to obtain an understanding of what it represents, its effects on the minister, and the traits it possesses.

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Though the veil is offered to us in the context of a very specific and individualized situation it is meant to mirror the very same aspect within society as a whole. Clearly enough, the veil represents something that shouldn’t be seen or displayed in public eyes, i.e. sin.

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 townsrwoman of Mr Hooper ventures to say at one point How strange that a simple black veil should become such a terrible thing on Mr. Hoopers face. 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 the same sad smile, which always appeared like a faint glimmering of light. proceeding from the obscurity beneath the veil.

The veil robs his social life of any semblance of normalcy or warmth, drowns his love life in lasting emptiness, and taints his professional life with a permanent unease. This can be seen in the vacant impersonal stares of his fellow townspeople, or in the displeasure of his love interests resolve to leave him. or even as he preaches a sermon to an eerily attentive congregation. This veil, as horrible and gloomy as it may seem, does become an infinite source of personal and public disdain. In this case, it is clear that both the title and the veil function as powerful conveyors of the theme Within the story. The theme if not in total, does, in part. suggest that personal sin and sorrow are far too horrible to be shown outwardly and as long as the ugliness of our sin remains hidden. we can manage to bare to interact With one another at some level.