One of the greatest qualities of literature is allowing the reader's mind to discover subliminal messages in an attempt to form their own understandings and ideas. Perhaps this particular process is commonly described in the expression “reading between the lines”. While many writers have implanted this literary aspect into their works, this essay focuses on a specific parable written by Nathaniel Hawthorne titled The Minister's Black Veil. Specifically, a parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. The characters and setting that Hawthorne uses to make his point create an overwhelming atmosphere that increases the power of his message. An analysis of Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Minister's Black Veil offers readers the opportunity to interpret and evaluate the various themes and symbols used by Hawthorne to convey an implicit but significant lesson. The setting and characters that Hawthorne uses in The Minister's Black Veil provide support and make his statement more effective. The setting is set in 1800s Milford, Massachusetts, a town southwest of Boston. The people of this Puritan town gather for Sunday service and at this time the protagonist of this story is revealed. The Reverend Mr. Hooper is described in the story as a well-dressed gentleman in his early thirties. Mr. Hooper is also the town minister and has a reputation as a good preacher. It is clear that the townspeople accept Mr. Hooper and speak highly of him, but this also changes on Sunday when the Reverend Mr. Hooper enters the meetinghouse to preach his sermon wearing a black veil. From this very moment, Mr. Hooper's image and reputation change dramatically from the perspective of...... medium of paper......r from which an influential story full of themes and symbols could arise. Reverend Hooper's actions combined with the period of Puritanism gave value to Hawthorne's message. The symbolism of the black veil as a secret sin offered a complex but crucial topic to address. Themes such as reaction to change, fear of the unknown, and no one is free from sin provide insight into human nature and are worthy of evaluation. Hawthorne uses this parable to express the ideal that sin is everyone's flaw and cannot be escaped. When people deceive themselves about their transgressions, they forget that every single person falls short of the glory of God. Works Cited Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Anthology of American Literature: Early 19th Century, 1800-1865. Ed. Paule Lauter. 6th ed. B. Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 2009. 2431-2439. Press.