The Minister's Black Veil Group

Question:

kybabyy02
kybabyy02
Student
High School - 11th Grade

Why are people are so disturbed by the veil in Hawthorne's short story?

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Posted by kybabyy02 on Thursday November 5, 2009 at 11:45 AM and tagged with ie, the minister's black veil.

Answers:


  1. scarletpimpernel Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    They are "disturbed" for several reasons. First, the minister is well-respected and well-liked.  His wearing the veil makes the people question whether they truly know the person whom they have respected. Secondly, the congregation's human nature causes them to be curious (about what is under the veil) and perhaps a little distressed by their minister's decision to not be "open" with them as he had been before. Finally, Hawthorne's Puritans are always superstitious and religiously fearful; so in this story, the church members fear that the minister might be able to see the sins that they are hiding and that perhaps he wears the veil to hide his eyes from their sin's ugliness.

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    Posted by scarletpimpernel on Thursday November 5, 2009 at 12:28 PM