Student Question
Why were the villagers uncomfortable with the black veil in "The Minister's Black Veil"?
Quick answer:
The villagers are uncomfortable with the minister's black veil for several reasons. Some believe the veil conceals his true identity or face, transforming him into something sinister or suggesting madness. The village doctor describes the veil's unsettling effect, making the minister appear "ghostlike." The minister's wife, Elizabeth, initially tolerates it but ultimately finds his refusal to remove the veil, even for her, intolerable, leading to their estrangement.
The villagers give various reasons for their discomfort at seeing their minister wearing a black veil. One says that he cannot believe that the minister's face is behind the veil at all. Another says that the minister has transformed himself into something awful. A third speculates that he has gone mad. The village doctor later agrees with this, saying something must be wrong with the minister's mind, then trying to articulate just what has made him feel so uneasy:
The black veil, though it covers only our pastor's face, throws its influence over his whole person, and makes him ghostlike from head to foot.
The villager who has most reason to dislike the black veil is the minister's wife, Elizabeth. Initially, she responds most mildly, saying that her only difficulty with the veil is that it hides a face she is always glad to see. In her case, it is the minister's obstinacy in refusing to lift the veil (even once it makes her uncomfortable) that drives her away from him.
Get Ahead with eNotes
Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.
Already a member? Log in here.