Society vs. The Individual in "The Minister's Black Veil" Batrishia Rakhim 12th Grade

Similar to most of Hawthorne's works, The Minister's Black Veil not only exemplifies the issues of morality, repentance and sin within the setting of Puritan New England, but it also exhibits the familiar literary theme of conflict between the individual and society. Through this kind of social, psychological and moral conflict, Hawthorne criticizes the Puritan image of original sin, as well as the stereotypical views this particular society bears regarding Reverend Hooper.

In spite of Milford's religious community, the townspeople are quick to judge and resent Mr Hooper without ever directly enquiring him of the reason he wears the black veil to obscure his face. While "one or two" are considerate enough to assume that it is only because his "eyes were so weakened by the midnight lamp as to require a shade", a majority of the community prefer severe accusations of his morality and mental health over good-judgment and practical questioning. It is evident that the society's reaction towards Mr Hooper's harmless black veil reflects their unfavourable qualities of ignorance and hypocrisy. Their antagonism however, does ironically bring them closer together as a community against the minister; the veil "supplied a topic for...