What Is The Minister's Black Veil
In The Minister’s Black Veil, Nathaniel Hawthorne explores 1 Corinthians 13:12 by looking at a Puritan minister, wearing a dark veil and his congregation’s responses, implying that everyone wears a dark veil to cover themselves, whether actually visible or not. The story embodies the verse and shows the reader a new aspect of it. In the tale, the minister reveals that he is using the veil to illustrate the veil everyone views the world through, and that no one removes the veil until death.
First, the verse, 1 Corinthians 13:12, is “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (KJV). In the text, the minister, Mr. Hooper says, “There is an hour to come, when
all of us shall cast aside our veils” (1316). He is referring to the veil that does not allow humans to see things as they truly are. People cannot see sin, angels, and demons in this world or their own selves. Mr. Hooper is using the veil as a symbol of the dark glass that Paul refers to in Corinthians. Both Hawthorne and Paul know that people cannot see things the way that God sees them, and therefore cannot see reality. Furthermore, Mr. Hooper cannot remove the veil until death. The Rev. Mr. Clark attempts to remove the veil from Mr. Hooper while on his deathbed but Hooper refuses (1319). The Puritans bury Mr. Hooper with the veil still on him. No one can remove the figurative veil on his or her faces because of the fall of man.
In conclusion, both Paul and Hawthorne are reflecting on the “veil” that blinds people to the realities of otherworldly things; whether to their own pride and sin, or to God’s motives behind existence. People cannot see life as it truly is and Mr. Hooper is a literal example of seeing the world through a dark lens. The only time this veil is removable, is through death.
First, the verse, 1 Corinthians 13:12, is “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (KJV). In the text, the minister, Mr. Hooper says, “There is an hour to come, when
all of us shall cast aside our veils” (1316). He is referring to the veil that does not allow humans to see things as they truly are. People cannot see sin, angels, and demons in this world or their own selves. Mr. Hooper is using the veil as a symbol of the dark glass that Paul refers to in Corinthians. Both Hawthorne and Paul know that people cannot see things the way that God sees them, and therefore cannot see reality. Furthermore, Mr. Hooper cannot remove the veil until death. The Rev. Mr. Clark attempts to remove the veil from Mr. Hooper while on his deathbed but Hooper refuses (1319). The Puritans bury Mr. Hooper with the veil still on him. No one can remove the figurative veil on his or her faces because of the fall of man.
In conclusion, both Paul and Hawthorne are reflecting on the “veil” that blinds people to the realities of otherworldly things; whether to their own pride and sin, or to God’s motives behind existence. People cannot see life as it truly is and Mr. Hooper is a literal example of seeing the world through a dark lens. The only time this veil is removable, is through death.