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What Does The Minister's Black Veil Symbolize

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The Minister’s Black Veil

In literature, a symbol is something used to represent something else. The textbook defines a symbol as “a further use of metaphor” (194). However, unlike the metaphor, a symbol does not clearly state what it is being compared with. Instead, it “implies rather than explicitly states meaning” (194). Symbols need to be seen within context for the reader to truly understand their meanings. At times, symbols may hold more than one meaning. Their meaning may also change throughout the story. An example of a piece of literature that successfully uses symbols to create a plot is the short story The Minister's Black Veil by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
The Minister’s Black Veil is a parable published in 1832. It was inspired by Mr. Joseph Moody, a clergyman in New England that wore a handkerchief on his face. Earlier in his life, Mr. Joseph Moody had accidentally killed one of his friends. From that day until the day of his death, he hid his face from everyone. Similarly, The Minister’s Black Veil is about Reverend Mr. Hooper’s decision to wear a black …show more content…
It represents the secret wrongdoings that people carry on their hearts. These wrongdoings supposedly give a sense of the integrity of a person. As Mr. Hooper said, everybody has a black veil. The veil portrays how everyone commits sins, however, these sins are to be kept in private to avoid judgment. The veil shows how sins can serve as barriers to socialization. It also shows how everyone has sinned, everyone knows that they have sinned, but nobody wants to be reminded that they have sinned. This is why people are so terrified by Mr. Hooper’s veil, since it serves as a mirror. It lets them see their reflection on it. It reminds them of their own secrets. Therefore, to distract from their flawed decisions, they turn to criticize other people’s flawed decisions. The black veil illustrates how everyone loves to talk, but not when the topic is

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