One of the themes in “The Minister's Black Veil”, readers is likely to recognize the reaction of the townspeople to change, especially when a change is associated with their religion or religious figures. This is clearly not an accepting community and it is worth thinking critically about the way the whole community comes together to shun him. The veil makes the Reverend look dark and gloomy and instantly, even before one day is through the people in town are witnessing supernatural events. It seems there is something to be said about the group mentality of Puritans and their quick tendencies toward superstition. Elizabeth is the only exception
His contrast and deviation from the standards that society believes in shows Toby’s complexity in character. Irony is crucial, conveying a negative tone about Toby’s religious beliefs, attitude, character, and the characters around him. It is ironic that Toby uses Sister James’s sins during his own confession, showing that he does not take his religion seriously. Primarily, irony develops a negative tone towards Toby’s religious beliefs and attitude. This tone becomes visible through the confession with the priest and Sister James.
A parable is a story used to teach a lesson. Due to its religious theme, one could assume that Hawthorne meant to influence the reader in terms of spirituality. Yet mystery lies in the subtitle because the reader is not sure what lesson Hawthorne wanted to express. Many readers of the story would argue that the veil is symbolic of a personal sin that the minister has committed, but Hawthorne writes the story as a parable of hidden guilt
The reader is plunged into a dim and melancholic atmosphere. Starting in the midst of things promotes a curiosity within the reader and seeks to contrast mood. The novel soon returns to the start of its chronological order and there reader is left to ponder how a character such as Michael Mompellion, who is seemingly likeable, can display such bitterness and contempt towards God despite his glorious reputation towards religion. It can be seen how the catastrophic nature of the quarantine that Eyam is placed in is testing of the community. We see a variety of responses but it is the inability of the majority to understand the roots of the plague that prevents them from undergoing personal transformation.
“There is either obedience or the church will burn like Hell is burning!” (pg 30) Parris tried to defend himself with such passionate and heartfelt comments but Proctor would have none of it. To him Parris was not in his society. Also, his relationship with Abigail Williams was a strained one, plagued with affair, scandal, and betrayal. He did love her, but soon after seeing what she truly was he resented his connection to her and, like what his old true nature told him, he confessed, causing a resent to appear within the town that never gave him his old trust
Through the characterisation of the Reverend, his narrow mindedness can be seen when he says “lord, we ask the same curse for those who ask grace for this sinner”. Kramer is trying to show that even highly regarded religious figures can be blinded by faith and have double standards, which is evident when the Reverend disagrees with his daughter about differing opinions on religion. However, Kramer does not want to be seen as anti-religious “religion’s supposed to comfort
In Hidden in plain sight: The Scarlet Letter and American Legibility, Gilmore argues that the fates of characters in The Scarlet Letter follow directly from their decisions to keep or not to keep secrets. He cites Hester’s psychic liberation as a reward for her open admission and acceptance of her adulterous affair. In contrast, he notes that Dimmesdale is incapacitated by the guilt and self-loathing that follows from his reticence and secrecy. Gilmore surmises from these interpretations of the characters’ choices and consequences that Hawthorne disapproves of concealing one’s secrets. However, Gilmore fails to sufficiently analyze the motivations behind the secrets that these characters hold.
This story is about committing a sin against the Puritan culture that is all about holiness and living right before God. Their culture really took ‘living by the Bible” seriously and condemned those who didn’t obey God’s laws. It became a widely-known scandal all around the town and many people condemned and had hateful feeling for Hester. But the real effects of the hurtful sin actually affected the minister. The first character who
Later on, Silas even believes that god has betrayed him as well and believes that there is no righteous god. “There is no just God that governs the earth righteously, but a god of lies, that bears witness against the innocent” (Elliot 18). Silas says this out of anger, yet there is no doubt that he feels neglect from God. Silas is a very religious man, so it is much unexpected that he pushes God away in such a manner. Feeling neglect and betrayal from god, Silas becomes lonely internally and also becomes depressed.
exclamation marks, this displays his emotional state and anger, giving you an accurate idea of the character. Browning has used a linear structure for the poem with flashbacks to different parts of about Fra Lippo Lippi’s life. This works as a metaphor for how the church works because even though time is moving on and forward they keep looking back into the past and using old traditional practices and views; exactly what about Fra Lippo is angered about. Sexual Imagery is used by Browning in line 196 'Oh, that white smallish female with the breasts' demonstrates how Fra Lippo thinks differently to the other monks. This kind of sexual fantasy is frowned upon by monks and the church, this circumstance helps to distinguish Fra Lippo from other members of the church.