Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Nathaniel Hawthorne II
Katja
ENGL 48A
Journal #14, Hawthorne II
November 14, 2006
"At that instant catching a glimpse of his figure in the looking-glass, the black veil involved his own spirit in the horror with which it overwhelmed all others. His frame shuddered--his lips grew white--he spilt the untasted wine upon the carpet--and rushed forth into the darkness. For the Earth, too, had on her black veil." (1284)
This quote--from The Minister's Black Veil--refers to when, at the wedding, Mr. Hooper has made a toast to the happy couple. As he is ready to toast them he catches his reflection in a mirror and spills his wine.
What does he see reflected in the mirror? Hawthorne indicates that the horror of Hooper's veil "overwhelmed" others but "involved" Hooper himself. He is one and the same as the evil it represents, suggesting that the veil is Hooper's personal yoke. He cannot but give in to what he sees there.
One could question whether Hooper is even alive. His white lips, the untasted wine, his frightening reflection and the apparently mourning Earth all point to that perhaps Hooper is dead, but unwillingly and unpeacefully so, trying to remain a part of village life. The people in attendance are overwhlemed, perhaps by grief over the loss of their pastor (or by joy for the happy couple). The text is like a creepy ghost dance of ambiguities, possibilities and dead ends.
The sentence end with the chilling statement that the Earth also has on a black veil. As mentioned it could mean that the dear reverend is no longer alive, however it seems more serious than that. The image of an Earth wearing a black veil calls to mind some type of all-encompassing, deep-running sorrow over the sad state of humanity, perhaps relating to the abolition issue, although Hawthorne was not as outspoken on this issue as were his friends Thoreau and Emerson. Hawthorne's perspective could be considered less narrow than Emerson's or Thoreau's due to the extensive traveling he undertook both on American soil and abroad. His journey's may have offered him insights not available to homebody Thoreau or lost-in-the clouds Emerson, I would think his stay in Liverpool, especially, would put humanity into perspective what with the lack of English child labor laws, etc.
I am unable to separate Mr. Hooper from the image and symbolism of the Earth. I think they are each other's representation and shadow.
ENGL 48A
Journal #14, Hawthorne II
November 14, 2006
"At that instant catching a glimpse of his figure in the looking-glass, the black veil involved his own spirit in the horror with which it overwhelmed all others. His frame shuddered--his lips grew white--he spilt the untasted wine upon the carpet--and rushed forth into the darkness. For the Earth, too, had on her black veil." (1284)
This quote--from The Minister's Black Veil--refers to when, at the wedding, Mr. Hooper has made a toast to the happy couple. As he is ready to toast them he catches his reflection in a mirror and spills his wine.
What does he see reflected in the mirror? Hawthorne indicates that the horror of Hooper's veil "overwhelmed" others but "involved" Hooper himself. He is one and the same as the evil it represents, suggesting that the veil is Hooper's personal yoke. He cannot but give in to what he sees there.
One could question whether Hooper is even alive. His white lips, the untasted wine, his frightening reflection and the apparently mourning Earth all point to that perhaps Hooper is dead, but unwillingly and unpeacefully so, trying to remain a part of village life. The people in attendance are overwhlemed, perhaps by grief over the loss of their pastor (or by joy for the happy couple). The text is like a creepy ghost dance of ambiguities, possibilities and dead ends.
The sentence end with the chilling statement that the Earth also has on a black veil. As mentioned it could mean that the dear reverend is no longer alive, however it seems more serious than that. The image of an Earth wearing a black veil calls to mind some type of all-encompassing, deep-running sorrow over the sad state of humanity, perhaps relating to the abolition issue, although Hawthorne was not as outspoken on this issue as were his friends Thoreau and Emerson. Hawthorne's perspective could be considered less narrow than Emerson's or Thoreau's due to the extensive traveling he undertook both on American soil and abroad. His journey's may have offered him insights not available to homebody Thoreau or lost-in-the clouds Emerson, I would think his stay in Liverpool, especially, would put humanity into perspective what with the lack of English child labor laws, etc.
I am unable to separate Mr. Hooper from the image and symbolism of the Earth. I think they are each other's representation and shadow.
# posted by Katja @ 8:30 AM 
