They are fearful because they think he has made a big sin that he will not share
In short, people react in awe and horror to the presence of the veil.
The members of the parish are shocked and curious when they first see Parson Hooper wearing the black veil. They become unsettled and fearful, interpreting it as a symbol of his guilt or a haunting reminder of secret sins. The veil creates a sense of mystery and unease among the parishioners.
As Hooper got older, he began wearing a black veil in public, leading the community to refer to him as "the minister's black veil." The veil symbolized hidden sins and secrets that everyone carries, causing unease and curiosity among the townspeople. Hooper's refusal to remove the veil heightened the mystery surrounding his true reasons for wearing it.
Mr. Hooper tells Elizabeth that he wears the veil as a symbol of the secret sin that all people carry in their hearts. He wants to remind others of the hidden guilt and shame that exist within each person.
Father Hooper ends up saying that he wore the veil not to cover his own sin, but to remind himself of the sin that exists in everyone he sees. Essentially, he was saying that the veil was a symbol of everyone else's sin and the fact that we all hold our deepest, darkest sin away from anyone else's view.
Members of the congregation were superstitious and gossiped about the veil that Mr. Hooper wore that hid his face. They sent a group of impertinent people and busybodies to ask him about the veil but they left when they became faint-hearted.
Mr. Hooper refuses to remove the veil because he believes it symbolizes the hidden sin and sorrow that everyone carries within themselves. He wants to remind people of their own imperfections and the need for repentance and forgiveness.
In "The Minister's Black Veil," the congregation is shocked when they see Mr. Hooper wearing the black veil. At first they felt amazement but this turned to disdain, fear, and superstitious feelings.
Parson Hooper suggests that people are terrified by his veil because it represents the hidden sins and secrets that everyone carries within themselves. It serves as a symbol of the darkness and guilt that people fear confronting in themselves.
Hooper saw a reflection of his own face, distorted by the black veil. The sight unsettled him and caused him to become introspective about the hidden sins and secrets that people carry within them.
In "The Minister's Black Veil" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the main antagonist can be seen as the villagers who judge and ostracize Reverend Hooper for wearing the black veil. Their fear and misunderstanding of the veil symbolize their own hidden sins and hypocrisy, making them the collective antagonist in the story.
The exposition of "The Minister's Black Veil" by Nathaniel Hawthorne sets the stage by introducing Mr. Hooper, the minister who suddenly starts wearing a black veil that mystifies the townspeople. The veil creates a sense of mystery and unease in the community and serves as a symbol of secret sin or concealed guilt. This sets up the central conflict of the story, exploring the impact of Mr. Hooper's decision to wear the veil on himself and those around him.