The Minister's Black Veil Essay
             The puritans lived an orthodox lifestyle that furnished even stricter religious policies. As a community, sin was in no way tolerated, and those who were decidedly "sinful" were often barred socially. Nathaniel Hawthorne set out to write a story that deals with this issue, partially because his ancestors were puritans themselves. "The Minister's Black Veil" criticizes the judgmental society, and lets the reader into the lifestyle of the puritans.
             The story begins by establishing Mr. Hooper's impact on the community. He is well respected and appreciated. The conflict arises when Mr. Hooper is introduced wearing a black veil. Immediately, the townspeople are astounded. They point, stare, and laugh at the pasture as if he were a stranger. They immediately reject him, and revoke the social privileges the community had since honored him with. Throughout the story, up until the dramatic conclusion where Hooper dies, he refuses to remove the veil, and explains, "all men have secret sins."
             Mr. Hooper was never able to fully regain the love that the community had bestowed on him before he put on the black veil. The story begins with the townspeople in an uproar over the pasture's decision to where the veil, and continues throughout the parable. He looses the love of his wife, and familiar standing with many in the community. "Old Squire Sanders, 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." Hawthorne uses his skill as a writer to make the reader feel not just pity for the man, but in some ways -- almost responsible for their banishment of Mr. Hooper.
             This feeling of responsibility is a universal feeling that reaches out to everyone who reads this story. Everyone has prejudged someone be...