Hawthorne: The Minister's black veil

"The antipathy or, at the very least, ambiguity towards masks is hundreds, if not thousands of years old, and it always associated with evil, sickness, wrongdoing, or, at the very least, “naughtiness” in western culture." From The Scottish Boomerang

Mr Hooper traded a part of his soul away for power: the power to move people by his words. The result is that he hides away from everyone lest they know what he has done. By hiding his face he repulses the townsfolk and even his bride to be Elizabeth.


This story is about more than just isolation it is also about power. In effect by isolating himself, Mr. Hooper has become a hermit but not a wise man lifted above darkness instead a righteous man trusted into darkness who is still trying to light the way out for others.

The irony is that Hooper has power to bring others into his flock while his flock does not invite Hooper in. And so even after his death the veil is left on symbolizing the disconnection Hooper has made from the rest of the world.