The Minister's Black Veil by Hawthorne

Mr. Hooper was a minister around the age of 30 still a bachelor, and his face was hidden beneath a black veil and gave all things a darkened aspect. He was known to be a good preacher, but he wasn’t very enthusiastic. His words from his sermon would creep upon people in the congregation using a subtle power. People left the service confused and amazed at the same time with his inspiring words being able to shine light on to these people. Eventually the sight of the black veil would disappear. In the Puritan society it was acceptable for women to wear veils, but when it was seen on Mr. Hooper's face everyone assumed that he committed a secret sin and was a bad person.

Mr. Hooper explains that everyone has a black veil around them…and you can just see mine… but there is a time in this world where everyone can cast away their veils and when the time comes he will explain.

This black veil separates him from the rest of the world and it is a symbol that he is bound to forever.

"All through life that piece of crape had hung between him and the world: it had separated him from cheerful brotherhood and woman's love, and kept him in that saddest of all prisons, his own heart; and still it lay upon his face, as if to deepen the gloom of his darksome chamber, and shade him from the sunshine of eternity."

When Mr. Hooper was laying on his death bed, the people around the community came to see him and were very disrespectful. Reverend Mr. Clark tried to reveal the secrets of the society for years by lifting his veil off. The people in Puritan New England do not have respect for others.

The community of Puritan, New England did not accept him for who he was, they just wanted to figure out the mystery of this black veil. This community is unable to accept people for who they truly are and its all about physical appearance. Not about what the person is on in the inside. By writing this story this is what Hawthorne is saying about Puritan New England.