Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) Study Objectives: 1.Understand the basic elements of a short story. 2.Learn the literary knowledge of symbol and allegory. 3.Appreciate the moral lesson conveyed by the narrative. Understanding the Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne in the 1860s Statue of Hawthorne in Salem,Massachusetts Nathaniel Hawthorne,American novelist,short story writer,and essayist,was born into a prominent New England family in Salem,Massachusetts,in July,1804.His rich family heritage and the leading role his ancestors played in American history shaped Hawthorne's philosophy and writing.His first American ancestor,William Hathorne (the author added a"w"to his name in his youth),arrived in 1630;later,he was involved in the persecution of Shakers.Subsequent family members included John Hathorne,a judge in the Salem Witch Trials of 1692,and Daniel Hathorne,a well-known and respected privateer during the American Revolution.Raised in New England,steeped in his Puritan heritage,and troubled by his ancestors'role in the persecution of others,Hawthorne focused on these themes throughout his life.The author spent his youth in Salem and among his maternal relatives in Maine,where his family moved in 1818.Breaking with
Nathaniel Hawthorne （1804-1864） Study Objectives: 1. Understand the basic elements of a short story. 2. Learn the literary knowledge of symbol and allegory. 3. Appreciate the moral lesson conveyed by the narrative. Understanding the Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne in the 1860s Statue of Hawthorne in Salem, Massachusetts Nathaniel Hawthorne, American novelist, short story writer, and essayist, was born into a prominent New England family in Salem, Massachusetts, in July, 1804. His rich family heritage and the leading role his ancestors played in American history shaped Hawthorne's philosophy and writing. His first American ancestor, William Hathorne (the author added a "w" to his name in his youth), arrived in 1630; later, he was involved in the persecution of Shakers. Subsequent family members included John Hathorne, a judge in the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, and Daniel Hathorne, a well-known and respected privateer during the American Revolution. Raised in New England, steeped in his Puritan heritage, and troubled by his ancestors' role in the persecution of others, Hawthorne focused on these themes throughout his life. The author spent his youth in Salem and among his maternal relatives in Maine, where his family moved in 1818. Breaking with
the seafaring tradition of his father's family,Hawthorne attended Bowdoin College in the early to mid-1820s and decided to become a writer.He met with little success for many years and so loathed his self-published and anonymous novel Fanshawe (1828)that he attempted to destroy every copy.However,building on the success and critical attention he was beginning to garner from the publication of stories in magazines during the 1830s,he published a collection of short stories and essays entitled Twice-Told Tales.The book was ignored by the public and did not earn Hawthorne a profit until its third edition.However,the stories were a great success among critics, including Edgar Allan Poe and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.Hawthorne finally overcame his financial troubles when he published The Scarlet Letter,a novel which has its roots in his earlier writings about Puritan America.After Hawthorne's critical and popular success with The House of the Seven Gables (1851),his work began to decline.Upon his death in 1864,Hawthorne had fundamentally altered American literature,serving as the first author to combine a distinctive American voice and historical setting with universal themes of suffering and guilt. "The Minister's Black Veil"(1836)is one of Hawthorne's best known and most respected short stories.First published in the Token,the story is also included in Hawthorne's first collection of short stories,Twice Told Tales (1837).Known for its ambiguous and dark tone,the story recounts the tale of a minister so consumed with human sin and duplicity that he dons a veil to hide his face and manifest the spiritual veils that all humans wear.The reasons for the minister's actions and their implications are never fully explained,leaving readers to ponder Hawthorne's meaning.As in such works as "Young Goodman Brown"(1835)and The Scarlet Letter (1850), Hawthorne employed the settings and themes that are characteristic of his fiction:a Puritan New England setting.a fascination with the secret sins of humanity.the transformation of an object into a symbol,a dark,somber tone,and a reliance on ambiguity. Understanding symbol and allegory: In the broadest sense a symbol is anything which signifies something;in this sense all words are symbols.In discussing literature,however,the term symbol is applied only to a word or phrase that signifies an object or event which in its turn signifies something.The word "rose",for
the seafaring tradition of his father's family, Hawthorne attended Bowdoin College in the early to mid- 1820s and decided to become a writer. He met with little success for many years and so loathed his self-published and anonymous novel Fanshawe (1828) that he attempted to destroy every copy. However, building on the success and critical attention he was beginning to garner from the publication of stories in magazines during the 1830s, he published a collection of short stories and essays entitled Twice-Told Tales. The book was ignored by the public and did not earn Hawthorne a profit until its third edition. However, the stories were a great success among critics, including Edgar Allan Poe and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Hawthorne finally overcame his financial troubles when he published The Scarlet Letter, a novel which has its roots in his earlier writings about Puritan America. After Hawthorne's critical and popular success with The House of the Seven Gables (1851), his work began to decline. Upon his death in 1864, Hawthorne had fundamentally altered American literature, serving as the first author to combine a distinctive American voice and historical setting with universal themes of suffering and guilt. "The Minister's Black Veil" (1836) is one of Hawthorne's best known and most respected short stories. First published in the Token, the story is also included in Hawthorne's first collection of short stories, Twice Told Tales (1837). Known for its ambiguous and dark tone, the story recounts the tale of a minister so consumed with human sin and duplicity that he dons a veil to hide his face and manifest the spiritual veils that all humans wear. The reasons for the minister's actions and their implications are never fully explained, leaving readers to ponder Hawthorne's meaning. As in such works as "Young Goodman Brown" (1835) and The Scarlet Letter (1850), Hawthorne employed the settings and themes that are characteristic of his fiction: a Puritan New England setting, a fascination with the secret sins of humanity, the transformation of an object into a symbol, a dark, somber tone, and a reliance on ambiguity. Understanding symbol and allegory: In the broadest sense a symbol is anything which signifies something; in this sense all words are symbols. In discussing literature, however, the term symbol is applied only to a word or phrase that signifies an object or event which in its turn signifies something. The word “rose”, for
instance,literally is a kind of flower,but very often it signifies love.Similarly,a peacock is associated with pride and an eagle with heroic endeavor.Some symbols maybe conventional or public,whereas some other symbols may be private or personal. An allegory is a narrative,whether in prose or verse in which the relative specific images are used to signify a more general concept.There are two main types of allegory:1)historical and political allegory in which the characters and actions represent historical personages and events;2) the allegory of ideas,in which the literal characters represent concepts and the plot allegorizes an abstract doctrine or thesis.In the second type some abstract entities such as virtues,vices,states of mind,modes of life may be personified as characters,as shown in John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress
instance, literally is a kind of flower, but very often it signifies love. Similarly, a peacock is associated with pride and an eagle with heroic endeavor. Some symbols maybe conventional or public, whereas some other symbols may be private or personal. An allegory is a narrative, whether in prose or verse in which the relative specific images are used to signify a more general concept. There are two main types of allegory: 1) historical and political allegory in which the characters and actions represent historical personages and events; 2) the allegory of ideas, in which the literal characters represent concepts and the plot allegorizes an abstract doctrine or thesis. In the second type some abstract entities such as virtues, vices, states of mind, modes of life may be personified as characters, as shown in John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress
Lead-in Questions: 1.How much do you know about the 19th century New England society? 2.Are you familiar with terms like puritanism,or Salem witch trials? 3.Do you know more of Nathaniel Hawthorne's works?What are they mainly about? The Minister's Black Veil A Parable (1836) 1 THE Sexton stood in the porch of Milford meetinghouse,pulling busily at the bell rope.The old people of the village came stooping along the street.Children,with bright faces,tripped merrily beside their parents,or mimicked a graver gait,in the conscious dignity of their Sunday clothes.Spruce bachelors looked sidelong at the pretty maidens,and fancied that the Sabbath sunshine made them prettier than on weekdays.When the throng had mostly streamed into the porch,the sexton began to toll the bell,keeping his eye on the Reverend Mr.Hooper's door.The first glimpse of the clergyman's figure was the signal for the bell to cease its summons. 2 "But what has good Parson Hooper got upon his face?"cried the sexton in astonishment. 3 All within hearing immediately turned about,and beheld the semblance of Mr. Hooper,pacing slowly his meditative way toward the meetinghouse.With one accord they started,expressing more wonder than if some strange minister were coming to dust the cushions of Mr.Hooper's pulpit. 4 "Are you sure it is our parson?"inquired Goodman Gray of the sexton
Lead-in Questions: 1. How much do you know about the 19 th century New England society? 2. Are you familiar with terms like puritanism, or Salem witch trials ? 3. Do you know more of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s works ? What are they mainly about? The Minister's Black Veil A Parable (1836) 1 THE Sexton stood in the porch of Milford meetinghouse, pulling busily at the bell rope. The old people of the village came stooping along the street. Children, with bright faces, tripped merrily beside their parents, or mimicked a graver gait, in the conscious dignity of their Sunday clothes. Spruce bachelors looked sidelong at the pretty maidens, and fancied that the Sabbath sunshine made them prettier than on weekdays. When the throng had mostly streamed into the porch, the sexton began to toll the bell, keeping his eye on the Reverend Mr. Hooper's door. The first glimpse of the clergyman's figure was the signal for the bell to cease its summons. 2 "But what has good Parson Hooper got upon his face?" cried the sexton in astonishment. 3 All within hearing immediately turned about, and beheld the semblance of Mr. Hooper, pacing slowly his meditative way toward the meetinghouse. With one accord they started, expressing more wonder than if some strange minister were coming to dust the cushions of Mr. Hooper's pulpit. 4 "Are you sure it is our parson?" inquired Goodman Gray of the sexton
5 "Of a certainty it is good Mr.Hooper,"replied the sexton."He was to have exchanged pulpits with Parson Shute,of Westbury;but Parson Shute sent to excuse himself yesterday,being to preach a funeral sermon." 6 The cause of so much amazement may appear sufficiently slight.Mr.Hooper gentlemanly person,of about thirty,though still a bachelor,was dressed with due clerical neatness,as if a careful wife had starched his band,and brushed the weekly dust from his Sunday's garb.There was but one thing remarkable in his appearance. Swathed about his forehead,and hanging down over his face,so low as to be shaken by his breath Mr.Hooper had on a black veil.On a nearer view it seemed to consist of two folds of crepe,which entirely concealed his features,except the mouth and chin, but probably did not intercept his sight,further than to give a darkened aspect to all living and inanimate things.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 who still waited on the meetinghouse steps.But so wonderstruck were they that his greeting hardly met with a return. 7 "I can't really feel as if good Mr.Hooper's face was behind that piece of crape," said the sexton. 8 "I don't like it,"muttered an old woman,as she hobbled into the meetinghouse. "He has changed himself into something awful,only by hiding his face." 9 "Our parson has gone mad!"cried Goodman Gray,following him across the threshold. 10 A rumor of some unaccountable phenomenon had preceded Mr.Hooper into the meetinghouse,and set all the congregation astir.Few could refrain from twisting their heads toward the door;many stood upright,and turned directly about while several little boys clambered upon the seats,and came down again with a terrible racket. There was a general bustle,a rustling of the women's gowns and shuffling of the men's feet,greatly at variance with that hushed repose which should attend the entrance of the minister.But Mr.Hooper appeared not to notice the perturbation of his people.He entered with an almost noiseless step,bent his head mildly to the pews on
5 "Of a certainty it is good Mr. Hooper," replied the sexton. "He was to have exchanged pulpits with Parson Shute, of Westbury; but Parson Shute sent to excuse himself yesterday, being to preach a funeral sermon." 6 The cause of so much amazement may appear sufficiently slight. Mr. Hooper gentlemanly person, of about thirty, though still a bachelor, was dressed with due clerical neatness, as if a careful wife had starched his band, and brushed the weekly dust from his Sunday's garb. There was but one thing remarkable in his appearance. Swathed about his forehead, and hanging down over his face, so low as to be shaken by his breath Mr. Hooper had on a black veil. On a nearer view it seemed to consist of two folds of crepe, which entirely concealed his features, except the mouth and chin, but probably did not intercept his sight, further than to give a darkened aspect to all living and inanimate things. 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 who still waited on the meetinghouse steps. But so wonderstruck were they that his greeting hardly met with a return. 7 "I can't really feel as if good Mr. Hooper's face was behind that piece of crape," said the sexton. 8 "I don't like it," muttered an old woman, as she hobbled into the meetinghouse. "He has changed himself into something awful, only by hiding his face." 9 "Our parson has gone mad!" cried Goodman Gray, following him across the threshold. 10 A rumor of some unaccountable phenomenon had preceded Mr. Hooper into the meetinghouse, and set all the congregation astir. Few could refrain from twisting their heads toward the door; many stood upright, and turned directly about while several little boys clambered upon the seats, and came down again with a terrible racket. There was a general bustle, a rustling of the women's gowns and shuffling of the men's feet, greatly at variance with that hushed repose which should attend the entrance of the minister. But Mr. Hooper appeared not to notice the perturbation of his people. He entered with an almost noiseless step, bent his head mildly to the pews on
each side,and bowed as he passed his oldest parishioner,a whitehaired great-grandsire,who occupied an armchair in the center of the aisle.It was strange to observe how slowly this venerable man became conscious of something singular in the appearance of his pastor.He seemed not fully to partake of the prevailing wonder, till Mr.Hooper had ascended the stairs,and showed himself in the pulpit,face to face with his congregation,except for the black veil.That mysterious emblem was never once withdrawn.It shook with his measured breath,as he gave out the psalm;it threw its obscurity between him and the holy page,as he read the Scriptures;and while he prayed,the veil lay heavily on his uplifted countenance.Did he seek to hide it from the dread Being whom he was addressing? 11 Such was the effect of this simple piece of crepe,that more than one woman of delicate nerves was forced to leave the meetinghouse.Yet perhaps the pale-faced congregation was almost as fearful a sight to the minister,as his black veil to them. Mr.Hooper had the reputation of a good preacher,but not an energetic one;he strove to win his people heavenward by mild,persuasive influences,rather than to drive them thither by the thunders of the Word.The sermon which he now delivered was marked by the same characteristics of style and manner as the general series of his pulpit oratory.But there was something,either in the sentiment of the discourse itself, or in the imagination of the auditors,which made it greatly the most powerful effort that they had ever heard from their pastor's lips.It was tinged,rather more darkly than usual,with the gentle gloom of Mr.Hooper's temperament.The subject had reference to secret sit,and those sad mysteries which we hide from our nearest and dearest and would fain conceal from our own consciousness,even forgetting that the Omniscient can detect them.A subtle power was breathed into his words.Each member of the congregation,the most innocent girl,and the man of hardened breast,felt as if the preacher had crept upon them,behind his awful veil,and discovered their hoarded iniquity of deed or thought.Many spread their clasped hands on their bosoms.There was nothing terrible in what Mr.Hooper said,at least no violence;and yet,with every tremor of his melancholy voice,the hearers quaked.An unsought pathos came hand in hand with awe.So sensible were the audience of some unwonted attribute in their
each side, and bowed as he passed his oldest parishioner, a whitehaired great-grandsire, who occupied an armchair in the center of the aisle. It was strange to observe how slowly this venerable man became conscious of something singular in the appearance of his pastor. He seemed not fully to partake of the prevailing wonder, till Mr. Hooper had ascended the stairs, and showed himself in the pulpit, face to face with his congregation, except for the black veil. That mysterious emblem was never once withdrawn. It shook with his measured breath, as he gave out the psalm; it threw its obscurity between him and the holy page, as he read the Scriptures; and while he prayed, the veil lay heavily on his uplifted countenance. Did he seek to hide it from the dread Being whom he was addressing? 11 Such was the effect of this simple piece of crepe, that more than one woman of delicate nerves was forced to leave the meetinghouse. Yet perhaps the pale-faced congregation was almost as fearful a sight to the minister, as his black veil to them. Mr. Hooper had the reputation of a good preacher, but not an energetic one; he strove to win his people heavenward by mild, persuasive influences, rather than to drive them thither by the thunders of the Word. The sermon which he now delivered was marked by the same characteristics of style and manner as the general series of his pulpit oratory. But there was something, either in the sentiment of the discourse itself, or in the imagination of the auditors, which made it greatly the most powerful effort that they had ever heard from their pastor's lips. It was tinged, rather more darkly than usual, with the gentle gloom of Mr. Hooper's temperament. The subject had reference to secret sit, and those sad mysteries which we hide from our nearest and dearest and would fain conceal from our own consciousness, even forgetting that the Omniscient can detect them. A subtle power was breathed into his words. Each member of the congregation, the most innocent girl, and the man of hardened breast, felt as if the preacher had crept upon them, behind his awful veil, and discovered their hoarded iniquity of deed or thought. Many spread their clasped hands on their bosoms. There was nothing terrible in what Mr. Hooper said, at least no violence; and yet, with every tremor of his melancholy voice, the hearers quaked. An unsought pathos came hand in hand with awe. So sensible were the audience of some unwonted attribute in their
minister,that they longed for a breath of wind to blow aside the veil,almost believing that a stranger's visage would be discovered,though the form,gesture,and voice were those of Mr.Hooper. 12 At the close of the services,the people hurried out with indecorous confusion, eager to communicate their pent-up amazement,and conscious of lighter spirits the moment they lost sight of the black veil.Some gathered in little circles,huddled closely together,with their mouths all whispering in the center;some went homeward alone,wrapt in silent meditation;some talked loudly,and profaned the Sabbath day with ostentatious laughter.A few shook,their sagacious heads,intimating that they could penetrate the mystery;while one or two affirmed that there was no mystery at all,but only that Mr.Hooper's eyes were so weakened by the midnight lamp as to require a shade.After a brief interval,forth came good Mr.Hooper also,in the rear of his flock.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.He returned,therefore,to the parsonage,and,at the moment of closing the door,was observed to look back upon the people,all of whom had their eyes fixed upon the minister.A sad smile gleamed faintly from beneath the black veil,and flickered about his mouth,glimmering as he disappeared. 13 "How strange,"said a lady,"that a simple black veil,such as any woman might wear on her bonnet,should become such a terrible thing on Mr.Hooper's face." 14 "Something must surely be amiss with Hooper's intellects,"observed her husband,the physician of the village."But the strangest part of the affair is the effect of this vagary,even on a sober-minded man like myself.The black veil,though it
minister, that they longed for a breath of wind to blow aside the veil, almost believing that a stranger's visage would be discovered, though the form, gesture, and voice were those of Mr. Hooper. 12 At the close of the services, the people hurried out with indecorous confusion, eager to communicate their pent-up amazement, and conscious of lighter spirits the moment they lost sight of the black veil. Some gathered in little circles, huddled closely together, with their mouths all whispering in the center; some went homeward alone, wrapt in silent meditation; some talked loudly, and profaned the Sabbath day with ostentatious laughter. A few shook, their sagacious heads, intimating that they could penetrate the mystery; while one or two affirmed that there was no mystery at all, but only that Mr. Hooper's eyes were so weakened by the midnight lamp as to require a shade. After a brief interval, forth came good Mr. Hooper also, in the rear of his flock. 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. He returned, therefore, to the parsonage, and, at the moment of closing the door, was observed to look back upon the people, all of whom had their eyes fixed upon the minister. A sad smile gleamed faintly from beneath the black veil, and flickered about his mouth, glimmering as he disappeared. 13 "How strange," said a lady, "that a simple black veil, such as any woman might wear on her bonnet, should become such a terrible thing on Mr. Hooper's face." 14 "Something must surely be amiss with Hooper's intellects," observed her husband, the physician of the village. "But the strangest part of the affair is the effect of this vagary, even on a sober-minded man like myself. The black veil, though it
covers only our pastor's face,throws its influence over his whole person,and makes him ghostlike from head to foot.Do you not feel it so?" 15 "Truly do I,"replied the lady;"and I would not be alone with him for the world.I wonder he is not afraid to be alone with himself!" 16 "Men sometimes are so,"said her husband. 17 The afternoon service was attended with similar circumstances.At its conclusion, the bell tolled for the funeral of a young lady.The relatives and friends were assembled in the house,and the more distant acquaintances stood about the door, speaking of the good qualities of the deceased,when their talk was interrupted by the appearance of Mr.Hooper,still covered with his black veil.It was now an appropriate emblem.The clergyman stepped into the room where the corpse was laid,and bent over the coffin,to take a last farewell of his deceased parishioner.As he stooped,the veil hung straight down from his forehead,so that,if her eyelids had not been dosed forever,the dead maiden might have seen his face.Could Mr.Hooper be fearful of her glance,that he so hastily caught back the black veil?A person who watched the interview between the dead and the living scrupled not to affirm,that,at the instant when the clergyman's features were disclosed,the corpse had slightly shuddered, rustling the shroud and muslin cap,though the countenance retained the composure of death.A superstitious old woman was the only witness of this prodigy.From the coffin Mr.Hooper passed into the chamber of the mourners,and thence to the head of the staircase,to make the funeral prayer.It was a tender and heart-dissolving prayer, full of sorrow,yet so imbued with celestial hopes,that the music of a heavenly harp, swept by the fingers of the dead,seemed faintly to be heard among the saddest accents of the minister.The people trembled,though they but darkly understood him when he prayed that they,and himself,and all of mortal race,might be ready,as he trusted this young maiden had been,for the dreadful hour that should snatch the veil from their faces.The bearers went heavily forth,and the mourners followed, saddening all the street,with the dead before them,and Mr.Hooper in his black veil behind
covers only our pastor's face, throws its influence over his whole person, and makes him ghostlike from head to foot. Do you not feel it so?" 15 "Truly do I," replied the lady; "and I would not be alone with him for the world. I wonder he is not afraid to be alone with himself!" 16 "Men sometimes are so," said her husband. 17 The afternoon service was attended with similar circumstances. At its conclusion, the bell tolled for the funeral of a young lady. The relatives and friends were assembled in the house, and the more distant acquaintances stood about the door, speaking of the good qualities of the deceased, when their talk was interrupted by the appearance of Mr. Hooper, still covered with his black veil. It was now an appropriate emblem. The clergyman stepped into the room where the corpse was laid, and bent over the coffin, to take a last farewell of his deceased parishioner. As he stooped, the veil hung straight down from his forehead, so that, if her eyelids had not been dosed forever, the dead maiden might have seen his face. Could Mr. Hooper be fearful of her glance, that he so hastily caught back the black veil? A person who watched the interview between the dead and the living scrupled not to affirm, that, at the instant when the clergyman's features were disclosed, the corpse had slightly shuddered, rustling the shroud and muslin cap, though the countenance retained the composure of death. A superstitious old woman was the only witness of this prodigy. From the coffin Mr. Hooper passed into the chamber of the mourners, and thence to the head of the staircase, to make the funeral prayer. It was a tender and heart-dissolving prayer, full of sorrow, yet so imbued with celestial hopes, that the music of a heavenly harp, swept by the fingers of the dead, seemed faintly to be heard among the saddest accents of the minister. The people trembled, though they but darkly understood him when he prayed that they, and himself, and all of mortal race, might be ready, as he trusted this young maiden had been, for the dreadful hour that should snatch the veil from their faces. The bearers went heavily forth, and the mourners followed, saddening all the street, with the dead before them, and Mr. Hooper in his black veil behind
18 "Why do you look back?"said one in the procession to his partner."I had a fancy,"replied she,"that the minister and the maiden's spirit were walking hand in hand." 19 "And so had I,at the same moment,"said the other. 20 That night,the handsomest couple in Milford village were to be joined in wedlock.Though reckoned a melancholy man,Mr.Hooper had a placid cheerfulness for such occasions,which often excited a sympathetic smile where livelier merriment would have been thrown away.There was no quality of his disposition which made him more beloved than this.The company at the wedding awaited his arrival with impatience,trusting that the strange awe,which had gathered over him throughout the day,would now be dispelled.But such was not the result.When Mr.Hooper came, the first thing that their eyes rested on was the same horrible black veil,which had added deeper gloom to the funeral,and could portend nothing but evil to the wedding. Such was its immediate effect on the guests that a cloud seemed to have rolled duskily from beneath the black crepe,and dimmed the light of the candles.The bridal pair stood up before the minister.But the bride's cold fingers quivered in the tremulous hand of the bridegroom,and her deathlike paleness caused a whisper that the maiden who had been buried a few hours before was come from her grave to be married.If ever another wedding were so dismal,it was that famous one where they tolled the wedding knell.After performing the ceremony,Mr.Hooper raised a glass of wine to his lips,wishing happiness to the new-married couple in a strain of mild pleasantry that ought to have brightened the features of the guests,like a cheerful gleam from the hearth.At that instant,catching a glimpse of his figure in the looking glass,the black veil involved his own spirit in the horror with which it overwhelmed all others.His frame shuddered his lips grew white,he spilt the untasted wine upon the carpet,and rushed forth into the darkness.For the Earth,too,had on her Black Veil. 21 The next day,the whole village of Milford talked of little else than Parson Hooper's black veil.That,and the mystery concealed behind it,supplied a topic for discussion between acquaintances meeting in the street,and good women gossiping at their open windows.It was the first item of news that the tavern keeper told to his
18 "Why do you look back?" said one in the procession to his partner. "I had a fancy," replied she, "that the minister and the maiden's spirit were walking hand in hand." 19 "And so had I, at the same moment," said the other. 20 That night, the handsomest couple in Milford village were to be joined in wedlock. Though reckoned a melancholy man, Mr. Hooper had a placid cheerfulness for such occasions, which often excited a sympathetic smile where livelier merriment would have been thrown away. There was no quality of his disposition which made him more beloved than this. The company at the wedding awaited his arrival with impatience, trusting that the strange awe, which had gathered over him throughout the day, would now be dispelled. But such was not the result. When Mr. Hooper came, the first thing that their eyes rested on was the same horrible black veil, which had added deeper gloom to the funeral, and could portend nothing but evil to the wedding. Such was its immediate effect on the guests that a cloud seemed to have rolled duskily from beneath the black crepe, and dimmed the light of the candles. The bridal pair stood up before the minister. But the bride's cold fingers quivered in the tremulous hand of the bridegroom, and her deathlike paleness caused a whisper that the maiden who had been buried a few hours before was come from her grave to be married. If ever another wedding were so dismal, it was that famous one where they tolled the wedding knell. After performing the ceremony, Mr. Hooper raised a glass of wine to his lips, wishing happiness to the new-married couple in a strain of mild pleasantry that ought to have brightened the features of the guests, like a cheerful gleam from the hearth. At that instant, catching a glimpse of his figure in the looking glass, the black veil involved his own spirit in the horror with which it overwhelmed all others. His frame shuddered his lips grew white, he spilt the untasted wine upon the carpet, and rushed forth into the darkness. For the Earth, too, had on her Black Veil. 21 The next day, the whole village of Milford talked of little else than Parson Hooper's black veil. That, and the mystery concealed behind it, supplied a topic for discussion between acquaintances meeting in the street, and good women gossiping at their open windows. It was the first item of news that the tavern keeper told to his
guests.The children babbled of it on their way to school.One imitative little imp covered his face with an old black handkerchief,thereby so affrighting his playmates that the panic seized himself,and he well-nigh lost his wits by his own waggery. 22 It was remarkable that of all the busybodies and impertinent people in the parish, not one ventured to put the plain question to Mr.Hooper,wherefore he did this thing. Hitherto,whenever there appeared the slightest call for such interference,he had never lacked advisers,nor shown himself averse to be guided by their judgment.If he erred at all,it was by so painful a degree of self-distrust,that even the mildest censure would lead him to consider an indifferent action as a crime.Yet,though so well acquainted with this amiable weakness,no individual among his parishioners chose to make the black veil a subject of friendly remonstrance.There was a feeling of dread, neither plainly confessed nor carefully concealed,which caused each to shift the responsibility upon another,till at length it was found expedient to send a deputation of the church,in order to deal with Mr.Hooper about the mystery,before it should grow into a scandal.Never did an embassy so ill discharge its duties.The minister received them with friendly courtesy,but remained silent,after they were seated, leaving to his visitors the whole burden of introducing their important business.The topic,it might be supposed,was obvious enough.There was the black veil swathed round Mr.Hooper's forehead,and concealing every feature above his placid mouth, on which,at times,they could perceive the glimmering of a melancholy smile.But that piece of crepe,to their imagination,seemed to hang down before his heart,the symbol of a fearful secret between him and them.Were the veil but cast aside,they might speak freely of it,but not till then.Thus they sat a considerable time,speechless, confused,and shrinking uneasily from Mr.Hooper's eye,which they felt to be fixed upon them with an invisible glance.Finally,the deputies returned abashed to their constituents,pronouncing the matter too weighty to be handled,except by a council of the churches,if,indeed,it might not require a general synod. 23 But there was one person in the village unappalled by the awe with which the black veil had impressed all besides herself.When the deputies returned without an explanation,or even venturing to demand one,she,with the calm energy of her
guests. The children babbled of it on their way to school. One imitative little imp covered his face with an old black handkerchief, thereby so affrighting his playmates that the panic seized himself, and he well-nigh lost his wits by his own waggery. 22 It was remarkable that of all the busybodies and impertinent people in the parish, not one ventured to put the plain question to Mr. Hooper, wherefore he did this thing. Hitherto, whenever there appeared the slightest call for such interference, he had never lacked advisers, nor shown himself averse to be guided by their judgment. If he erred at all, it was by so painful a degree of self-distrust, that even the mildest censure would lead him to consider an indifferent action as a crime. Yet, though so well acquainted with this amiable weakness, no individual among his parishioners chose to make the black veil a subject of friendly remonstrance. There was a feeling of dread, neither plainly confessed nor carefully concealed, which caused each to shift the responsibility upon another, till at length it was found expedient to send a deputation of the church, in order to deal with Mr. Hooper about the mystery, before it should grow into a scandal. Never did an embassy so ill discharge its duties. The minister received them with friendly courtesy, but remained silent, after they were seated, leaving to his visitors the whole burden of introducing their important business. The topic, it might be supposed, was obvious enough. There was the black veil swathed round Mr. Hooper's forehead, and concealing every feature above his placid mouth, on which, at times, they could perceive the glimmering of a melancholy smile. But that piece of crepe, to their imagination, seemed to hang down before his heart, the symbol of a fearful secret between him and them. Were the veil but cast aside, they might speak freely of it, but not till then. Thus they sat a considerable time, speechless, confused, and shrinking uneasily from Mr. Hooper's eye, which they felt to be fixed upon them with an invisible glance. Finally, the deputies returned abashed to their constituents, pronouncing the matter too weighty to be handled, except by a council of the churches, if, indeed, it might not require a general synod. 23 But there was one person in the village unappalled by the awe with which the black veil had impressed all besides herself. When the deputies returned without an explanation, or even venturing to demand one, she, with the calm energy of her
