The Minister’s Black Veil by Nathanial Hawthorne is set in a small,
old timey, American town. Everything
about this town is pretty normal until that one fateful day. One day Reverend Hooper suddenly decided to
wear a strange article of clothing: a black veil. Prior to Parson Hooper’s sudden change of fashion
he was well liked, but when he puts on that veil suddenly no one wants to be
around him anymore.
“Turning his veiled face from one group to another, he paid
due reverence to the hoary heads, saluted the middle aged with kind dignity as
their friend and spiritual guide, greeted the young with mingled authority and
love, and laid his hands on the little children's heads to bless them. Such was
always his custom on the Sabbath day. Strange and bewildered looks repaid him
for his courtesy. None, as on former occasions, aspired to the honor of walking
by their pastor's side. Old Squire Saunders, doubtless by an accidental lapse
of memory, neglected to invite Mr. Hooper to his table, where the good
clergyman had been wont to bless the food, almost every Sunday since his
settlement.”
Although this isn’t the main
theme of this story, it is interesting to see how acquaintances will suddenly
turn on one another with one simple change: whether the change is simply a new
clothing article, or a change in personality.
In this story, the minister’s veil causes all of the people of his
church to be scared of him and neglect him regardless of all traditions. This story reflects the way people react to
situations like this in real life.
The books you read seem to be very unique.
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