Dark Romanticism in "The Minister's Black Veil"

Along with other writers such as Edgar Allan Poe and Emilie Dickenson, Nathaniel Hawthorne is known as one of the most important and most representative of Dark Romantic literature. His work of "The Minister's Black Veil" exemplifies many characteristics of Dark Romanticism crediting the fact that Hawthorne is a leader in the genre. The strong use of symbolism and the things each symbol represents are supportive of Dark Romantic characteristics. This along with the use of a language and literary style popular to that of Romanticism exemplify the characteristics used in Dark Romantic literature.

The first thing that one notices about this story is the language and style used to tell and describe the account of the minister and the black veil that he wore. “With this gloomy shade before him, good Mr. Hooper walked onward, at a slow and quiet pace, stooping somewhat, and looking on the ground, as is customary with abstracted men, yet nodding kindly to those of his parishioners…” (Hawthorne). This line from the beginning of the story shows all of the styles that are used in the story. First the word selection is similar to what is common in Dark Romanticism in a sense that some of the words are very dark and eerie in a way. As this is the first part of the story where the veil is described, it is already stated as being “gloomy.” The description of how Mr. Hooper is walking through the aisles portrays a person that is doing his normal tasks, but at the same time there is a very eerie sense to how he is acting around the people.

As well as the style in which this story is written, the entire theme also reflects many of the characteristics of Dark Romanticism. Throughout the story the people of the town, along with the reader, are wondering what the meaning of their preacher wearing this black veil is. Many times in the story, there is mention of “secret sin,” and this may be the cause for the black veil that the preacher has begun to wear (Hawthorne). This is supportive of the ideals of Dark Romanticism as that there is a strong belief that all people are prone to sin and self destruct. The cause Mr. Hooper to wear this veil is never truly reveled, but this idea suggests that he did something to make him ashamed of himself and not want to be seen by his peers.

At the conclusion of this story, Mr. Hooper dies and his face remains covered by the black veil that he has been wearing for so many years (Hawthorne). At this point in the story it is almost symbolic that at his death, a black veil is already on his face; similar to what many of the women may have worn to his funeral. It is clear that not even in his death will a mortal lay eye on his face, and as he decays in his grave, he will remain both figuratively and literally covered and hidden from everyone.

The story of “The Minister’s Black Veil” displays many of the characteristics and ideals presented many times in Dark Romantic literature. The style of writing, symbols, and also the main theme presented by the work are evidence to its being in the genre of Dark Romanticism. This is no surprise as Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of the leaders in the genre and this story, along with many of his other works displays this.


Works Cited

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. "The Minister's Black Veil." American Literature. Comp. Jeffery D. Wilhelm. Columbus: McGraw Hill, 2009. 280-89. Print.