The Minister Black Veil - analisi + commento

The Minister's black veil

by Nathaniel Hawthorne

1836 è pubblicato singolarmente

1837 è pubblicato insieme ad altri racconti in Twice-Told Tales

narratore: esterno

in 3 persona

e lettore

lasciano le

compito

di comprende l’intero racconto

focalizzazione:

complesso:

• esterna

mobile - dovuta ai vari cambiamenti di reazione

è guidata dal narratore esterno

prot: un uomo di chiesa indossa un velo nero

Questo velo non se lo toglierà fino alla morte.

Non dà spiegazioni sue perché lo abbia voluto indossare

• non ci sono movimenti/ostacoli da superare
• non c’è evoluzione del racconto

alla conclusione non sappiamo nulla

Hawthorne si è ispirato ad un fatto realmente accaduto

The Minister's black veil

by Nathaniel Hawthorne

1836 è pubblicato singolarmente

1837 è pubblicato insieme ad altri racconti in "Twice-Told Tales"

narratore: esternoin 3 persona

moe il lettore lascia il compitodi comprendere l'intero racconto

focalizzazione:

• complessoesterna

+

• mobile - dovuta ai vari cambiamenti di reazioneè guidata dal narratore esterno

prot: un uomo di chiesa indossa un velo nero (che gli copre il vetro ad eccezione degli occhi)Questo velo non se lo toglierà finoalla morte.Non dà spiegazioni sul perché lo abbia volutoindossare

= non ci sono movimenti/ostacoli da superare

= non c'è evoluzione del racconto

mo

alla conclusione non sappiamo nulla

Hawthorne si è ispirato ad un fatto realmente accaduto

tema:

• fantastico sopranaturale

GOTICO (mouvement romano)

DIMENSIONE SIMBOLICA

motivi simboli ed allegorie

• limiti

• per entrare comunque in paradiso

percorso (seguito)

• colpa
• condanna
• paura
• sopravvivenza

come in the "scarlet letter"

6 = vita ipocrita

apparene → nascondimento

per soddisfare chi ci sta attorno

rimando religioso: "corona di spine" di Gesù

ambientazione: America - passato coloniale - comunità puritana

• atmosfere lugubri e oscure

Nathaniel Hawthorne:

The Minister’s Black Veil (1836)

A Parable

THE SEXTON stood in the porch of Milford meeting-house, pulling busily at the bell-rope. The old people of the village came stooping along the street. Children, with bright faces, tripped merrily beside their parents, or mimicked a graver gait, in the conscious dignity of their Sunday clothes. Spruce bachelors looked sidelong at the pretty maidens, and fancied that the Sabbath sunshine made them prettier than on week days. When the throng had mostly streamed into the porch, the sexton began to toll the bell, keeping his eye on the Reverend Mr. Hooper's door. The first glimpse of the clergyman’s figure was the signal for the bell to cease its summons. "But what has good Parson Hooper got upon his face?" cried the sexton in astonishment.

All within hearing immediately turned about, and beheld the semblance of Mr. Hooper, pacing slowly his meditative way towards the meeting-house. With one accord they started, expressing more wonder than if some strange minister were coming to dust the cushions of Mr. Hooper's pulpit.

"Are you sure it is our parson?" inquired Goodman Gray of the sexton.

"Of a certainty it is good Mr. Hooper," replied the sexton. "He was to have exchanged pulpits with Parson Shute, of Westbury; but Parson Shute sent to excuse himself yesterday, being to preach a funeral sermon."

SCENA FESTIVA della DOMENICA

SONO TUTTI MOLTO FELICI

IL SAGRESTANO TIRA LE CAMPANE FINO ALL'ARRIVO DEL PASTORE HOOPER

LUI ARRIVA E HA IL VOTO COPERTO DA UN VELO NERO

TUTTI SONO SCOSSI/SPAVENTATI/STUPITI

SUBITO PENSANO CHE NON SIA IL PASTORE HOOPER,

(ma il pastore che sarebbe dovuto esserci al suo posto aveva detto

che non sarebbe potuto venire)

POI PENSANO SIA IMPAZZITO

NON PIACE PERCHE Sembra QUALCHE COSA CHE FACCIA PAURA DATO CHE SI NASCONDE

ENTRANO TUTTI IN CHIESA (mentre parlano di un pellegrinaggio di cui non

con FERMENTO sappiamo nulla)

(non come al solito)

ENTRA ANCHE HOOPER E SI COMPORTA COME SEMPRE

CONTINUA LO STUPORE ANCHE TRA IL PIÙ VECCHIO PARROCCHIANO

(anche se quest'ultimo se ne accorge solo proprio di fronte)

surely as with the gentle gloom of an autumnal mist. The subject had reference to secret sin, and those sad mysteries which we hide from our nearest and dearest, and would fain conceal from our own consciousness, even forgetting that the Omniscient can detect them. A subtle power was breathed in his words. Each member of the congregation, the most innocent girl, and the man of hardened breast, felt as if the preacher had crept upon them, behind his awful vail, and discovered their hoarded iniquity of deed or thought. Many spread their clasped hands on their bosoms. There was nothing terrible in what Mr. Hooper said, at least, no violence; and yet, with every tremor of his melancholy voice, the hearers quaked. An unsought pathos came hand in hand with awe. So sensible were the audience of some unwonted attribute in their minister, that they longed for a breath of wind to blow aside the

vail, almost believing that a stranger’s visage would be discovered, though the form, gesture, and voice were those of Mr. Hooper. At the close of the services, the people hurried out with indecorous confusion, eager to communicate their pent-up amazement, and conscious of lighter spirits the moment they lost sight of the Black Vail. Some gathered in little circles, huddling closely together, with their mouths all whispering in the center; some went homeward alone, wrapped in silent meditation; some talked loudly, and profaned the Sabbath day with ostentatious laughter. A few shook their sagacious heads, intimating that they could penetrate the mystery; while one or two affirmed that there was no mystery at all, but only that Mr. Hooper’s eyes were so weakened by the midnight lamp, as to require a shade. After a brief interval, forth came good Mr. Hooper also, in the rear of his flock. Turning his veiled face from one group to another, he

paid due reverence to the hoary heads, saluted the middle-aged with kind dignity as their friend and spiritual guide, greeted the young with mingled authority and love, and laid his hands on the little children’s heads to bless them. Such was always his custom on the Sabbath day. Strange and bewildered looks repaid him for his courtesy. None, as on former occasions, aspired to the honor of walking by their pastor’s side. Old Squire Saunders — doubtless by an accidental lapse of memory — neglected to invite Mr. Hooper to his table, where the good clergyman had been wont to bless the food, almost every Sunday since his settlement. He returned, therefore, to the parsonage, and at the moment of closing the door was observed to look back on the people, all of whom had their eyes fixed upon the minister. A sad smile gleamed faintly from beneath the black vail, and flickered about his mouth, glimmering as he disappeared.

“How strange,” said a lady, “that a simple black vail, such as any woman might wear on her bonnet, should become such a terrible thing on Mr. Hooper’s face!”

“Something must surely be amiss with Mr. Hooper’s intellects,” observed her husband, the physician of the village. “But the strangest part of the affair is the effect of this vagary, even on a sober-minded man like myself. The black vail, though it covers only our pastor’s face, throws its influence over his whole person, and makes him ghostlike from head to foot. Do you not feel it so?”

“Truly do I,” replied the lady; “and I would not be alone with him for the world. I wonder he is not afraid to be alone with himself!”

“Men sometimes are so,” said her husband.

The afternoon service was attended with similar circumstances. At its conclusion, the bell tolled for the funeral of a young lady. The relatives and friends were assembled in the house, and more than one ready tospurio lagrime

THE MINISTER'S BLACK VEIL

For some time previous, his mind had been confused, wavering...

the woman feared to face his frown. She forgot to invite...

delivered at long intervals, like the tolling of a funeral bell.

“I know how leaders make.” He stamped on the floor, shrieking...

If there were few who listened, they were startled at his words.

were moved with an astonishment that had no fear in it.

minister being led by an invisible hand, led along through...

and disappeared behind the march of a vast throng...

strengthened by the belief that heaven had chastised...

thought about the dead young woman had harmed...

hand of its maker forgetting his own sanctity, called the hearts...

looked upon the unquenchable thirst of the storm which has...

had caught a glimpse of the pale death’s-head, and they shuddered to...

would smite them and symbolize the hidden language of life's sorrow...

“I object not to the thunders uprooting forest, the rain pouring...

the sound increased or deepened, as they drifted beyond the limits...

that could speak and be heard or be recognized by those...

who walked in silence. Their coming might be heard by certain...

among the numerous and wide beds of bramble and hemlock...

of Mr. Clark, bending forward to the old man's voice, and put...

forward along the headstone, which pressed them eagerly on the...

dreaded farewell. And thus had he learned to listen with an eager...

“Good-bye,” said Mr. Clark, bending forward. Clark kept forward...