Nathaniel Hawthrone’s ‘The Minister’s Black Veil’ and ‘The Scarlet Letter’ share many common elements in the scope of themes, characterization, style, and symbolism. First, both works have a decisive focus on the interpretation of sin and guilt. The Scarlet Letter depicts the supposed sin committed by Hester Prynne as an act against the social and religious standards of the time. The socially imposed punishment is explored as the isolation Hester endures while Dimmesdale remains free but instills psychological distress in him (Hariyanti & Nurhayati, 2017). Hooper in The Minister’s Black Veil, upholds the belief that everyone living in society is capable and has committed sin. Hooper’s sin is assumed to be specific by the townspeople and this terrifies the society which is more likely to hide sin than confront and fix it as is suggested by Puritan ideology.
Both works criticize the approach by which the Puritan society measured sin, guilt, and values. In The Minister’s Black Veil, Hawthorne depicts how the veil of Hooper does encourage the Puritans to act in very traditionalist behaviors, such as paying more attention to sermons, fearing for the wellbeing of their souls, and rejecting everyday pleasures (Johansen, 2019). However, Hawthorne notes that the Puritans do not gain anything from their newly found state of a kind of ‘gloom’. The Scarlet Letter criticizes the Puritan community by comparing the punishment suffered by Dimmesdale and Hester being unequal, which Hawthrowne found to be a misuse of the Puritan ideology as well as human judgment.
In the Minister’s Black Veil, Hooper is first introduced as a preacher of high regard, who is approachable. However, with the introduction of his veil, his demeanor and his perception by others takes a dramatic turn. This change is especially impactful considering the town in which the story is set is incredibly resistant to change. As such, they interpreted the veil of Hooper as an inherently negative thing which was associated with sin or evil. However, as the reader is able to see into Hooper’s thought process, they are able to recognize that he wears the veil as a form of atonement of a past act that he is ashamed of. In spite of his self-imposed isolation, Hooper continues to serve the community as a minister, likely due to his loyalty to his belief despite his past. Hooper is characterized both by his own actions and the interpretation of them by the townspeople. His veil becomes a symbol for secrets and appearance in contrast with reality.
Both works employ a significant amount of symbolism, though it is especially relevant in the characterization within the Scarlet Letter. For instance, Hester is referred to as beautiful with rich complexion and elegance. The townsfolk, on the other hand, are described as sad-colored, gray, and hooded. This description creates a contrast between Hester and the population of the town, and it depicts Hester as beautiful despite her status as an adulterer. Additionally, Pearl, Hester’s illegitimate daughter is referred to as an elf or fairy, which further expands on her mysterious and isolated nature in comparison to the townsfolk. Hawthorne also compares Pearl to a flower to expose her frailty, both from an emotional and physical side. The style and symbolic imagery in both works approach the societal response to sin in different ways, but both address how the townsfolk do not adhere to their own values in a way that is adequate.
References
Hariyanti, T. & Nurhayati, D. (2017). Pearl in Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter: A Socio-Religious Perspective. AWEJ for Translation & Literary Studies, 1(1), 65-78. Web.
Johansen, I. K. (2019). Guilt and Sin in American Puritan Society in Hawthorne’s Short Stories. [Unpublished bachelor’s thesis]. Norwegian University of Science and Technology.