The Minister s Black Veil - 1128 Words

In the story â€Å"The Minister’s Black Veil,† American Romanticism characteristics are very typical in this story in many different ways. What is American Romanticism you make ask? Well, American Romanticism is â€Å"a movement of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries that marked the reaction in literature, philosophy, art, religion, and politics from the neoclassicism and formal orthodoxy of the preceding period.† An example from the story of American Romanticism is, â€Å"And when she suggests that members of the community may interpret the veil as a symbol of great sin, he replies: â€Å"If I hide my face for sorrow, there is cause enough†¦ and if I cover if for secret sin, what mortal might not do the same† (Nathaniel Hawthorne 129). This example from†¦show more content†¦Some ways that show that Mr. Hooper is a Romantic Character are, â€Å"The minister lived his life â€Å"a man apart from men, shunned in their health and joy, but ever summoned to their aid in mortal anguish† (Nathaniel Hawthorne 130). In other words this quote shows that Mr. Hooper is a Romantic Character because it shows how Mr. Hooper has been alone and has himself as the center of his own existence. Another way that shows that Mr. Hooper is a Romantic Character is, â€Å"Hooper  ­begs ­ Elizabeth ­ to  ­understand: ­ â€Å"O! ­ you know ­ not ­ how ­ lonely ­ I ­ am, ­ and ­ how ­ frightened, ­ to ­ be ­ alone ­ behind ­ my ­ black ­ veil,†Ã‚ ­ he ­ cries ­ (18). ­ Elizabeth ­ asks ­ that ­ he  ­lift ­ the  ­veil ­ just  ­once  ­to  ­look at ­ her. When  ­he ­ refuses, ­ she ­ bids  ­him ­ farewell ­ and slowly  ­departs† (Nathaniel Hawthorne 129). This is another example from the story that shows how Mr. Hooper is a Romantic Character. This shows how he has been rejected by someone he truly loves just because he wouldn’t lif t up his veil and look at Elizabeth. If Elizabeth truly loved Mr. Hooper, then she would understand that he will not lift up his veil until he dies and she wouldn’t have left him like she did. A black veil. What does the black veil symbolize in this story and why is it so important? To the people of the community, the black veil symbolizes a great â€Å"sin.† In reality, the minister tells the people of the community that the black veil does not symbolize a great â€Å"sin†, it symbolizes a great â€Å"sorrow† and