The Minister's Black Veil Review

Veils are things most people associate being worn by brides in weddings or by women and men of specific religious groups. Today the selection of a bridal veil is left to the discretion and fashion taste of the bride. Over time the covering of a persons face, either through a veil or mask can be seen as an act of protection or the hiding away of identity. Veils have been used for religious purposes since before Biblical times, but one example of veil usage stands out in the book of Exodus.

"The Radiant Face of Moses
34:29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. 32 Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai.

33 When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. 34 But whenever he entered the Lord's presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35 they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD. (Bible Gateway / www.biblegateway.com)"


Moses, the leader of the Israelites wears a veil to protect the eyes of his people from the brightness of his face after spending time in the presence of God. It seems that Moses reveals his face before God to assure that there is nothing separating him form God's presence, but his concern for his family and friends causes him to shield them from this uncanny glow.

The Minister in Hawthorne's short story is also a man of God determined to wear a veil, but his motivation was one to induce fear and control over his congregation instead of shielding them from something they could not absorb.

" Such was the effect of this simple piece of crape, that more than one woman of delicate nerves was forced to leave the meeting house. Yet perhaps the pale-faced congregation was almost as fearful a sight to the minister, as the black veil to them. (Pg 105, Charters)"

Perhaps the minister could have been fearful of his congregation and possibly desired to make up for the own human insecurity he carried in is heart by placing a holy veil between him and them. If he retained such a distance, he might possibly be a more effective minister than if he relied upon his own personality and wits. Was it possible that the minister was afraid to be himself, unguarded and imperfect as it might jeopardize his effectiveness as a young minister as well?

The effect of his veil did prove to make him a more powerful speaker. His words were no louder or spirited, but the veil he wore spoke volumes to the hearts of the people that listened. The reaction of the congregation was visible: ladies left the room in fear and listeners raised their hands to their chest in conviction. After the message, the Minister was usually swarmed with crowds of people desiring to walk with him, speak on a one-on-one basis, or invite him to Sunday dinner. No one came near him. No one begged his attentions. He simply retired to his home and closed the door.

The villagers that had been so quiet in the minister's presence began to mutter out loud as to what could be the reason for this sudden change in his clerical attire. Was he ill? Was he trying to teach them something? Was he hiding some secret sin? The questions to this abrupt change stewed in the kettle of controversy and fear.

Fearful rumors concerning the minister only increased as he continued carrying on his duties. Before the funeral of a young village woman, a parishioner was said to witness the minister leaning over the body of the dead girl and her body was said to shudder at the closeness of his revealed face. Other witnesses at the girl's funeral looked backwards in the funeral procession almost expecting, "that the minister and the maiden's spirit were walking hand in hand. (Pg. 108, Charters).

The minister had always been a joyful asset to happy occasions, but his presence at weddings now placed a shroud of death over what should have been lively and exciting event. His presence turned the rosy-cheeked bride pale with dread. Some even thought the spirit of the recently buried maiden had taken residence in the once blushing bride. Even his own demeanor proved to be distressing as he gave the wedding toast to celebrate the nuptials.

"At a that instant, catching a glimpse of his figure in the looking glass, the black veil involved his own spirit in the horror with which it overwhelmed all others. His frame shuddered his lips grew white he spilt the untasted wine on the carpet and rushed forth into the darkness. For the Earth, too, had on her Black Veil. (Pg 108, Charters)"

Gossip was the only means of communication within the village concerning the reasons why the veil had taken residence upon the minister's face. The oppressive nature of the veil kept all from asking him the reason for the wearing of it. Even the elders and leaders of the church were unable to confront the minister Mr. Hooper concerning the details of the black veil.
Mr. Hooper seemed to enjoy the discomfort caused by his higher-ups. Perhaps the young minister had taken some abuse or criticism from the church leaders in the past and now they were powerless to even look him in the eye. The black veil that initially had separated him from humanity was now providing him with the power and control that had previously been missing in his life.

The only person that had more concern for Mr. Hooper than for personal discomfort of approaching the veiled face was his wife. She was not afraid of the crepe divider, not at first.

Elizabeth holds hope out to Mr. Hooper; "there is nothing terrible in this piece of crepe, except that it hides a face which I am always glad to look upon. Come, good sir, let the sun shine from behind the cloud. First lay aside your black veil; then tell me why you put it on. (Pg. 109, Charters)"

Mr. Hooper refuses the hope she offers and insists that she or no one else can come behind it until he dies. Mr. Hooper mourns that his spirit is faulty and unable to visible to the world due to its weakness. The minister rejects his wife and the hope she offers to him. The secrets of his heart he wishes to be comforted, but his inability to be vulnerable to her confidence closes the last door of human intimacy. Elizabeth once hopeful is now taken over by the terror of the black veil and she leaves him to his own delusions. Mr. Hooper can't comprehend why his dear Elizabeth could not abide the veil and takes no responsibility for the loss of his loving wife.

Mr. Hooper was an excellent minister. The black veil he wore provided him with the kind of power over men and women that many desire. He used that power to gain disciples and grow a faithful and obedient congregation. Sadly, the minister had to sell all happiness to succeed in station in life.

Simple pleasures like taking a daily walk became impossible as the people that he wished to see would flee form his presence and those he had no desire to see would chase after him like his shadow. Children ran from him as soon as they caught sight of him. Slowly but surely the black veil he thought would empower him, had become a prison allowing no light, hope or love entrance. Mr. Hooper had lost his life, his sanity to a swatch of fabric. It is a common ailment of mankind though, to sacrifices everything that makes them human in order to attain a bizarre sense of perfection.
Mr. Hooper did gain many converts, but the power to convict sin and offer grace was an offer only available to his flock and not to his own heart.

Death for most believers is a time that is focused upon release form mortal chains and transfers citizenship to heavenly residence. Heaven is a place of forgiveness and release from the sin of life but Mr. Hooper holds close to his fear and his black veil even in death.

"Why do you tremble at me alone?...Tremble also at each other! Have men avoided me, and women shown no pity, and children screamed and fled only for my black veil? What, but the mystery which it obscurely typifies, has made this piece of crepe so awful? When the friend shows his inmost heart to his friend; the lover to his best-beloved; when man does not vainly shrink form the eye of the Creator, loathsomely treasuring up the secret of his sin; then deem me a monster, for the symbol beneath which I have lived, and die! I look around me, and lo! On every visage a Black Veil! (Pg. 114, Charters)"

Mr. Hooper is buried with the black veil upon his face, how sad an ending for a man obsessed with living perfectly. In one aspect Mr. Hooper was correct, mankind wears many different kinds of veils to hide the inner man. Some men and women pursue selfish goals, while attempting to wear a veil of false humility. Other people live in secret sin, while walking about pointing at the weakness and visible sin in the lives of their peers. All humanity wears one mask or another. The saddest of veils are the ones that steal, kill and destroy like the black veil Mr. Hooper wears eternally.
Mr. Hooper offered salvation to other but was numb to the salvation he needed in his own life. His mistake was wearing his "cross" instead of bearing it. His ideal of perfection made it impossible for his to expose the needs of his own heart - forgiveness of sin. Being tied up in performance and success are sure means of either falling on your face or putting a mask on to hide the imperfections.

The minister in this short story should have followed after Moses' veil example in being transparent before God and protecting his people from fear. Manipulating peoples' behavior by force with fear only creates a congregation of puppets and players. Perfect love cast out fear it doesnt wear it around his face.



Works Cited:
1. The Bible Gateway/ www.biblegateway.com, Exodus
Chapter 34:29-35

2. The American Short Story and Its Writer, Ann Charters:Copyright 2000 by Bedford/St. Martins. Boston, MA 0211