Getting to the Heart of Truth - Essay Example

They are also expected to be very prayerful as compared to common people because it is their job to make themselves an example of holiness. Moreover, they are seen as representatives of a holy God and therefore should always keep themselves in check. Perhaps, what strengthens such perceptions, even more, are the examples of great men and women of the Bible who are expected to be the role models of ministers. With such an outlook of people, choosing a minister for a character to be studied causes curiosity enough to get readers to think about their humanity as well.
Black is often used to represent lethargy, death, evil, and even the devil himself. The color of the veil has been deliberately chosen to symbolize something extremely uncomfortable, especially for a minister. Since the black veil was used to cover his face, especially his eyes, he caused different opinions to be brought about. For some, they simply got curious and made fun of it while others seriously thought that there might be something evil that the minister did which he tried to hide behind the veil. This was used by the author to express that the minister after all is still human and that he is just as vulnerable to sin as other people are. The figure of holiness was brought to the common people’s level in a subtle manner which is, figuratively. As the narration says, “His converts always regarded him with a dread peculiar to themselves, affirming, though but figuratively, that, before he brought them to celestial light, they had been with him behind the black veil”. Such indirect communication, whether the protagonist indeed meant the author’s assumption to be that way, keeps the minister maintaining the people’s respect but his silence about the matter does not put it to rest. This keeps the other characters and of course the readers to keep on wondering what could have been happening in the ministers’ hearts and minds.
In the story, it was revealed that the minister was in love with a woman named Elizabeth and the reason why he used the veil was that he constrained himself from loving her and avoided people to know about his secret feelings. In the Roman Catholic Church, a pioneer church in most countries, priests are not allowed to marry. Such constraint that the minister demanded from himself suggests that he belongs to the said church. Love is said to be a universal language and is felt by everyone. These qualities are used by the author to bring the readers to wonder if a respected person, known to only express brotherly love towards people, is not able to have carnal desires toward the opposite sex.
In the story, the author explains that ministers, no matter how holy they seem to be, are also human beings with strengths and weaknesses. They also feel hurt, angered and they fall in love, too. However, since they made a vow to remain single all their lives to serve God and his people with undivided attention; they have to deny themselves of their feelings. This is explained by the symbolism presented by the minister’s back veil. He considered it a sin for him to fall in love with a woman in his parish and he did not like to continue sinning, therefore, he had to use the veil as a symbol and perhaps a reminder to himself that he is supposed to detach himself from this world and all the things it has.
Symbolism is indeed an effective manner used in the story which speaks a lot of things that can be difficult to explain in words. Although as a writer, Hawthorne might have been articulate enough to express his thoughts, he chose to use symbolism instead to communicate more information more universally. Perhaps around the world, the color black and the use of a veil are both interpreted similarly. This helps the author bring to the readers’ attention the message he wants them to grasp.
In conclusion, the choice of character, the author’s goals in his use of character and technique, and the use of symbols are all employed to look deeper into the motives of people. The story suggests that there is always a meaning in everything. Moreover, people always do what they do for some reason.