The Veil Iniquity

There are certain characteristics of Dark romanticism that Hawthornes "The Ministers Black Veil" does an extrordinary job of illustrating. The story focuses first, on the belief that sin is evil. The preacher's veil creates an illusion of tangible iniquity. "Did he seek to hide it from the dread Being, whom he was addressing." Instantly, sin is no longer an action but substance, a vapor of midst and gloom that envelopes us, and permeates our fiber. The veil embodies that which in life that seperates us from knowing true peace.

The veil creates many illusions in the mind of both the reader and the characters. "Beloved and respected as you are, there may be whispers that you hide your face under the conscious of secret sin, for the sake of your holy office do away this scandal." Initially, the veil seems fitting, due to the sentiments created by the funeral of a women. Later, upon refusing to remove the veil it begins to cast further undesirable sentiments. "The instinctive dread caused him to feel more strongly than ought else, that a prenatural horror was interwoven with the threads of the black cape."

Self examination seems important here; if Dark Romanticism focus is to look inwardly for truth.
The preachers veil represents a sword thrust to the heart of everone's conscious. Simple questions arise as to whether or not some deed or supposition stains our aspect, reflecting like a mirror our true disdain. "At that instant, catching a glimpse of his figure in the looking-glass, the black veil involved his own spirit in the horror with which it overwhelmed all others. His frame shuddered, his lips grew white, he spilt the untasted wine upon the carpet, and rushed forth into the darkness. For the Earth, too, had on her Black Veil."

What devotion the preacher has to the his sentiments about sin. How wonderfully tragic is his commitment unto death, to wear the veil. The loneliness and seperation he must have endured: His only solace, faith in Gods immeasurable mercy.

Irrepairable, man is damaged goods, a stalwart theme in Dark Romanticism. "Dark old man! exclaimed the affrighted minister, "What horrible crime upon your soul are you now passing to judgement." A lifetime endeavored attempting to do God's work, yet still the preacher remains marred with imperfections.

What wonderful results the veil had on those who came to know the preacher. "His converts always regarded him with a dread peculiar to themselves, affirming, though but figuratively, that, before he brought them to celestial light, they had been with him behind the black veil." Truly, the preachers veil signified his own transgressions, thus establishing himself as no better than any of God's children. Its apparent that our differences may distinguish us, but in our willingness to recognize them in yourselves and everone else true peace and forgiveness can be attained.


John 3:19-21 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds where evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But however lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.