Solitude/Isolation in “The Minister’s Black Veil” and Hawthorne’s Life :: Ministers Black Veil Essays

Solitude/Isolation in The ministers Black Veil and Hawthornes Life In the Nathaniel Hawthorne tale, The Ministers Black Veil, we see and receive the solitude/isolation of the minister, Reverend Mr. Hooper. Is this solitude not a reflection of the very life of the author? harmonize to A.N. Kaul in his Introduction to Hawthorne A Collection of Critical Essays, the themes of isolation and alienation were ones which Hawthorne was deeply preoccupied with in his writings (2). At the outset of the tale, The Ministers Black Veil, the sacristan is tolling the church bell and simultaneously watching Mr. Hoopers door, when suddenly he says, But what has good Parson Hooper got upon his face? The surprise which the sexton displayed is repeated in the astonishment of the onlookers With one accord they started, expressing more wonder. . . The reason is this Swathed about his forehead, and hanging down over his face, so low as to be shaken by his breath is a black veil. The 30 year old, unm arried parson receives a variety of reactions from his congregation I cant really feel as if good Mr. Hoopers face was behind that piece of crape He has changed himself into something awful, only by hiding his face Our parson has gone mad Few could refrain from construction their heads towards the door. . . . . . . more than one woman of delicate nerves was forced to leave the meeting-house. Hawthorne, after exposing the surprised people to the sable veil, develops the protagonist through a verbal description of some of his less exotic and curious characteristics Mr. Hooper had the reputation of a good preacher, but not an energetic one he strove to win his people up by mild, persuasive influences, rather than to drive them thither by the thunders of the Word. The sermon which he now delivered was marked by the same characteristics of style and manner as the general series of his pulpit oratory. However, on this first day of wearing his black veil there is some peculiar dif ference in Hoopers sermon But there was something, either in the sentiment of the discourse itself, or in the imagination of the auditors, which made it greatly the most powerful private road that they had ever heard from their pastors lips. It was tinged, rather more darkly than usual, with the gentle gloom of Mr.