The Minister's Black Veil: A Paradigm Group

Question:

koofoo562
koofoo562
Student
High School - 11th Grade

What reasons does Mr. Hooper give when refusing to remove his veil to his fiancee in The Minister's Black Veil:  A Paradigm?

Rate question:

Posted by koofoo562 on Sunday March 15, 2009 at 3:06 PM and tagged with characters, fiancee, mr hooper, the minister's black veil: a paradigm, themes.

Answers:


  1. dymatsuoka

    eNotes Editor

    When Elizabeth, Mr. Hooper's fiancee, asks him to remove the veil and explain to her why he put it on in the first place, he responds that he cannot.  When he refuses to remove the veil, she presses him to at least explain himself, to "remove the mystery from his words".  The minister says only that he has vowed to wear the veil forever, as "a type and symbol", and as she receives his explanation, Elizabeth is suddenly stricken with a sense of the symbolic horror of his act.  By refusing to let go of the black veil, Mr. Hooper is in essence displaying his willingness to give up even the most precious of human relationships, a relationship of love.

    Mr. Hooper's black veil is symbolic of the masks all men wear to hide their innermost secrets and desires.  Just as the veil has the power to destroy the sacred relationship he might have had with his fiancee, so do the masks that all men wear have the potential to ruin their relationships with those around them in their lives.

     

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/ministers-black/
    http://www.enotes.com/ministers-black/summary
    http://www.enotes.com/ministers-black/themes

    Rate answer:

    Posted by dymatsuoka on Sunday March 15, 2009 at 10:48 PM