Nathaniel Hawthorne in “The Minister's Black Veil” is able to show the hypocrisy and excessive emphasis of the Puritan people and their beliefs by involving the reader in this short story using “a gentlemanly person” (409) who decides to start wearing a black veil over his face. As Milford's finest gather on the "meeting house porch" (409) and enjoy the hope of another Sunday service, the townspeople's sunny disposition and picturesque surroundings soon change when Parson Hooper emerges with a "mere piece of crepe" covering his face. This unusual appearance of the reverend to the citizens even made some of them feel faint and forced some women “with delicate nerves to leave the service” (410). Although Pastor Hooper's behavior and his polite and kind demeanor are the same as always, and his preaching is much more interesting and entertaining, the townspeople perceive their minister very differently. As Parson Hooper continues to wear the veil, people begin to stare and rumors begin to circulate, especially since his sermon addressed the topic of secret sin. As people make him a social pariah, Parson Hooper becomes a representation of hidden sin and an object of terror. Even as death knocks on his door, Parson Hooper still doesn't want to let himself be revealed, in fact, Hooper finally reveals that no one should be afraid of him, but of each other because "men have shunned me, and women have not shown mercy, and the children cried out and ran away” (417) all because of a simple black veil. Through the use of symbols, Hawthorne is able to use this tale to demonstrate that the people of the community, the Puritan religion, and their. beliefs are hypocritical and overzealous. One of the first ways he depicts the Puritans or...... middle of paper... the reader believes that Parson Hooper can be seen as having the power of God or someone who knows everything. . The citizens feared that others and even God would know of their iniquities and wrongdoings. Although the Puritans and the people of Milford place much respect and emphasis on God, as they refuse to evaluate their own sins, they actually reject God as well, just as they do. they rejected Parson Hooper. As Hawthorne shares his In Brief, the writing teaches a lesson and helps demonstrate the hypocrisy and overemphasis of the Puritan faith and beliefs of the citizens of Milford. These people in the community were much more interested in the spirituality of others than their own and encouraged secret vices over public display. Hawthorne adequately presented the lesson that judging oneself was far more important than judging others.