The+Minister's+Black+Veil

[|Minister's Black Veil]

Symbolism of the black veil:
 * A physical reminder of a sin or sins comitted by Father Hooper
 * Represents "original sin" as stated in the Bible
 * Death is a moment that is innevitable
 * "a deliberate ambiguity that is not meant to be resolved, but only to call attention to itself."

This story by Nathaniel Hawthorne is based upon the Protestant religion and the geographical area of New England. In writing " The Minister's Black Veil" Hawthorne probably tried to criticize Protestants due to happenings before his time which were the Salem witch events and harrassing Quakers. Protestants believe that there are only a chosen number of people who will ascend into "heavenly grounds" and they devote their life to finding out if they are a chosen one or doing what is needed to be chosen. So by harrassing the Quakers and hanging the "witches" because they were thought not to be following the word of God, the Protestants were contradicting their own beliefs.