The Minister's Black Veil: Masks and Intimacy The Minister's Black Veil begins with a young minister, Mr. Hooper, who arrives at church with an ugly black veil on his covers the face. People are all shocked and wonder why she is wearing a black veil. They are further dismayed and confused when he refuses to take it off... ever. There is only one person who is not horrified by his black veil: his future wife, Elizabeth. She approaches him and says: "There is nothing terrible about this piece of crepe, except that it hides a face which I am always happy to look at. Come, good sir, let the sun shine from behind the clouds. First put yourself aside" your black veil: then tell me why you wear it." (Heath 2143) Mr. Hooper smiles and replies, "There is an hour when we will all cast aside our veils. Don't take it amiss, dear friend, if I wear this piece of crepe until then." (Heath 2143) Elizabeth, once again, begs him to remove the veil, but he replies: "this veil is a type and a symbol, and I am obliged to wear it always, both in light and in darkness, in solitude and before the gaze." of multitudes, and as with strangers, so with my familiar friends. No mortal eye will see it withdrawn. This sad shadow must part me from the world: not even you, Elizabeth, will ever be able to follow her! Elizabeth asks him what people will think of her veil? Will it not cause a scandal? Mr. Hooper then replies: "If I hide my face in pain, there are sufficient reasons, and if I cover him for a secret sin, what mortal could not do the same?" (Heath 2143) Elizabeth begins to feel terror at the sight of the veil. She turns to leave the room, and Mr. Hooper calls out, "Bear with me, Elizabeth! Forsake me not, though this veil must be among us here in... middle of paper..." .. understanding and healing. Mr. Hooper's veil has ostracized him from the mercy, understanding and love of his congregation. BIBLIOGRAPHY Kaul, (ed.) "HAWTHORNE: A Collection of Critical Essays:". Prentice-Hall, Inc. Levin, Harry., (1961) "The Scarlet Letter and Other Tales of the Boston Puritans: Houghton Mifflin Company. Morris, Lloyd., "THE REBEL PURITAN: Portrait of Mr. Hawthorne." Port Washington: Kennikat Press."The Heath Anthology of American Literature" (2nd ed.). Lexington: D.C. Heath and Company.Van Doren, Mark., (Ed.). (1951). “The Best of Hawthorne.” New York: The Ronald Press Company. Waggoner, Hyatt H., “HAWTHORNE: A Critical Study.” Cambridge: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press." World history and cultures: in Christian perspective." Pensacola: A Beka Book.