Ferguson Shooting

James Mueller

Period G

Why Does Hopper Wear a Veil?

Father Hooper appears at service one day with a black veil over his face. The town begins to gossip over the possibilities of why the minister has covered his face, but he tells no one. While anything different cannot be expected, people begin to treat him differently, and all that is different is the veil. This black veil that covers his face even begins to frighten many. Townspeople insist that Father Hooper has committed a grave sin and that he wears it in shame. While the veil’s symbolism is open to interpretation, it appears as though the minister hides a sin that deeply bothers him.

Sin is the most likely explanation as to why Mr. Hopper sears the veil. He does not want to reveal his sin to the town, and so he covers it on his face instead. Rather than tell everyone, everyone figures it out themselves. By covering his face, he doesn't have to face the world. Furthermore, wearing the veil may be a form of release for self-guilt. After committing the crime, guilt and tension build up within him, and wearing the veil soothes all of this. The only clue that Hooper shares is that everyone wears a veil. Everyone commits sins that remain unrevealed. Father Hooper’s method of expressing his sin helps to relieve his tension, and by wearing this veil he also suggests that others should express their own secret sin so as to help relieve the stress of keeping it locked up.

The author Nathaniel Hawthorne shows how one symbol can be interpreted in many ways. He does not give the reason behind the black veil because he wants the readers to use their imagination and interpret for themselves the reason for the veil. Although Father Hooper never answered the mystery of the veil, it appears the veil is a manifestation of guilt and admission of sin. By wearing the veil he is encouraging others to examine their own consciences as this is the first step towards reconciliation with God.