The Minister's Black Veil

After Reading Comprehension 1. RECALL What is the topic of the first sermon Mr. Hooper gives while wearing the veil? The sermon topic is secret sin. 2. RECALL What reason does Mr. Hooper give Elizabeth for wearing the veil? Mr. Hooper never gives a straight answer, but says that the veil is a symbol that he must always wear. . . .continued

After Reading Comprehension continued 3. SUMMARIZE As time goes by, how do Mr. Hooper’s relationships change? The first change is that Mr. Hooper goes from being respected and loved to being feared and avoided. Over time, however, people seek him out. They think that he is intimate with sin and therefore can help them deal with their own sins. . . .continued

After Reading Literary Analysis 4. IDENTIFY CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS What does the story reveal about Puritan religious beliefs, rules of behavior, and values and ideals? The story reveals the importance of Sunday worship; the importance of rank ; the prevalence of gossip and superstition; an obsession with sin ; and hypocrisy . Some of these traits are not limited to Puritan culture. 5. INTERPRET SYMBOL What does the black veil represent? The veil may be a symbol of sin. Mr. Hooper makes people feel that their wicked thoughts are known . . .continued

After Reading Literary Analysis continued 6. EXAMINE CHARACTER AMBIGUITY The minister is an ambiguous character: he can be seen as an innocent victim of others’ fears or as a man driven to isolate himself, convinced of his own moral superiority. Innocent victim: He remains a good, kind person; he begs Elizabeth not to leave him . Arrogant isolationist: He chooses to wear the veil leading to his estrangement from his congregation; he refuses to offer a clear explanation of it . The villagers’ discomfort is caused by their own fears, which lead them to be intolerant of differences and to see sin and evil everywhere

After Reading Literary Criticism 7. Reading Hawthorne's biography reveals the personal motives that inspired his critical portrayal of Puritan culture. Hawthorne was critical because he felt guilty about having a Puritan ancestor who was an intolerant persecutor. Mr. Hooper might represent Hawthorne’s struggle between the awareness of flaws in Puritan culture and his inability to escape from them.