Nathanial Hawthorne's short story, "The Minister's Black Veil," touches on issues of social norms and how people often take too much precedence in questioning strange behavior instead of accepting one's personal choices. By constantly trying to demand answers, people often forget to appreciate the complexity of the world and fail to realize that it is impossible to have life's answers readily available for personal consumption on a silver platter. The general public places too much emphasis on the critical analysis of human nature, rather than pausing briefly to enjoy life's greatest mysteries. The main character, Mr. Hooper, was the only ideal example of someone who chose not to comply with conventional social norms compared to the people of the Puritan cities. Nathanial Hawthorne's cryptic tale revolves around Mr. Hooper's black veil which symbolizes the sins and guilt once committed; however, the truth behind the veil remains elusive as it closely resembles a human mask, behind which society constantly hides rather than exposing the truth to the surface. As the town's minister, Mr. Hooper was seen as a highly respected man who held a high position in the community church, where he preached his ideals to his fellow Puritans. Hawthorne’s interpretation of the ordained minister, “Mr. Hooper had the reputation of a good preacher, but not a forceful one: he strove to win his people heavenward, by mild and persuasive influences, rather than drive them thither, by the thunders of the Word” (998). This quote suggests that Mr. Hooper lacked vitality and urgency in engaging the Puritans in connecting with their inner spiritual sides. His lackluster performance did not promote the vision of thinking beyond oneself to a higher power, but it also avoided ... middle of paper ... one is covered in moss and good Mr. Hooper's face is dust; but terrible is the thought that he has rotted under the black veil” (1006). The message behind the black veil was to remain a secret, which Mr. Hooper never revealed to anyone, not even himself. It is possible to assume that Mr. Hooper felt that the public did not deserve to know the truth because his society was too judgmental. They chose to spread lies and did not respect personal wishes. Perhaps the meaning of the black veil was misunderstood and symbolically represented the ugliness that his society imposed on him. He chose to stand out rather than blend in with conventional social norms. The truth is that Mr. Hooper considered himself normal, while he felt that the people of the city would not dare to leave their religion and live life in a different way.