The Minister's Black Veil Group
Question:
nkalaj03
Student
College - Freshman
In a single afternoon, Hooper presides at both a funeral and a wedding. How do people react to the presence of the veil at each event?
Answers:
-
eNotes Editor
Posted by robertwilliam on Sunday November 2, 2008 at 7:10 PMIn short, people react with awe and horror to the presence of the veil. At the funeral, it deepens the sense of melancholy and ominousness, even to the point to which two parishioners at a young maiden's funeral see it as almost demonic:
I had a fancy," replied she, "that the minister and the maiden's spirit were walking hand in hand."
"And so had I, at the same moment," said the other.
At the wedding, the "horrible black veil, which had added deeper gloom to the funeral... could portend nothing but evil to the wedding". It frightens the guests, and it even frightens Hooper himself:
...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 upon the carpet, and rushed forth into the darkness.
Sources:
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
