Summary

One Sunday, at the early morning service, the Reverend Mr. Hooper appears before his congregation wearing a black veil that extends from his forehead down over his mouth. The parishioners are shocked; some suggest that he has gone mad, and others speculate that perhaps the veiled figure is not the Reverend Mr. Hooper at all. What is clear, however, is that the veil has a tremendous impact on the congregation. Women with weak nerves must leave the service. Old Squire Saunders, who ordinarily invites the Reverend Mr. Hooper to dinner after the service, even forgets to extend his invitation. That afternoon, the Reverend Mr. Hooper conducts a funeral service for a young lady, and the veil again affects his audience. A “superstitious old woman” supposes that when the Reverend Mr. Hooper bends over the coffin, the corpse of the young lady shudders as his face is slightly unveiled, and two of the mourners in the procession to the grave say that they saw the spirits of the minister and the maiden walking hand in hand.

Finally, that night, Milford’s handsomest young couple are married by the minister, and his veil casts a pall over the whole ceremony. When the Reverend Mr. Hooper catches a glimpse of himself in a mirror at the reception, he shudders and spills some wedding wine on the carpet, then leaves abruptly.

By morning, the minister’s black veil is the central topic of conversation in the village of Milford, and it seems that no one can solve the mystery. A deputation from the church is sent to the minister’s home to question him about the black veil, but they return entirely disappointed. Only one person can solve the mystery, Elizabeth, who is engaged to be married to the Reverend Hooper. At the first opportunity, she approaches him on the subject of the black veil, and to her questions his reply is enigmatic. “Know, then, this veil is a type and a symbol, and I am bound to wear it ever, both in light and darkness, in solitude and before the gaze of multitudes, and as with strangers, so with my familiar friends.” Though Elizabeth asks him to let her alone see his face, it quickly becomes apparent that he has no intention of ever removing the veil, not even for Elizabeth. As Elizabeth starts away, the Reverend Mr. Hooper catches her arm, pleading with her to have patience. “Lift the veil but once . . . ,” she says, and he replies “Never!” With that, she leaves him, and they are never married, though Elizabeth provides a surprise at the conclusion of this tale.

After the interview with Elizabeth, no one attempts again to persuade the Reverend Mr. Hooper to remove the veil. Through the remainder of his life, the veil has many negative effects. His parishioners see him with dread, and children flee at his approach. Rumors and tales abound concerning why he put on the veil in the first place. Many speculate...