The Central Conflict, Climax and Resolution in The Minister’s Black Veil :: Ministers Black Veil Essays

The Central Conflict, Climax and Resolution in The rectors nigrify Veil This essay will analyze Nathaniel Hawthornes The Ministers Black Veil to determine the central conflict in the tale, its climax and overtone resolution, using the essays of literary critics to help in this interpretation. In the opinion of this reader, the central conflicts the relation between the protagonist and antagonist (Abrams 225) - in the tale are an cozy one, a spiritual-moral conflict within the minister, the Reverend Mr. Hooper, and an external one with the world at large represented by the congregation. Wilson Sullivan in Nathaniel Hawthorne tells where the author got the idea of a conflict between good and evil He looked back, deeply back into Americas Puritan past, the era of the New England theocracy, when the conflict of good and evil, exemption and tyranny, love and hatred was more explicit, more rigidly defined, free of the ambiguities of an increasingly pluralistic society, governed by a shared morality (70). At the outset of the tale, The Ministers Black Veil, the sexton is tolling the church bell and simultaneously watching Mr. Hoopers door, when suddenly he says, But what has good Parson Hooper got upon his face? The admiration which the sexton displayed is repeated in the astonishment of the onlookers With one accord they started, expressing more wonder. . . The reason is this Swathed about his forehead, and hanging down over his face, so low as to be shaken by his breath is a black veil. The 30 year old, unmarried parson receives a variety of reactions from his congregation I cant rightfully feel as if good Mr. Hoopers face was behind that piece of crape He has changed himself into something awful, only by hiding his face Our parson has gone mad Few could come to an end from twisting their heads towards the door. . . . . . . more than one woman of delicate nerves was forced to leave the meeting-house. At this point begins the external conflict of t he drama between the minister and the people of his congregation, which will last until his death. Except for the sable veil, Reverend Hooper is quite a compatible and sociable personality Mr. Hooper had the reputation of a good preacher, notwithstanding 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.