The Minister's Black Veil Characters Analysis

 Reverend Hooper - He is the protagonist of the short story, and the plot follows Hooper’s sudden decision to veil his face from the world. He appears in the veil for a Sunday sermon, and never takes it off. He never attempts to explain why he has put it on and discloses to his fiancé that he is unable to supply the reasons because of a vow. He becomes an esteemed minister of the church and gains the respected title of Father Hooper in his later life. Even on his deathbed, Hooper refuses to relinquish the veil and reminds the people around his bed that they wear a veil just as black as the one he wears.

Elizabeth - She is Reverend Hooper’s promised wife, who first encroaches on the subject of the veil with Hooper. The villagers of Milford are unable to address the matter directly even though it becomes such a talked-about subject in the village circles. Initially, she doesn’t see the reason for the discomfort that the villagers experience at the sight of the veil, but as she discusses the matter with him, the veil transforms before her eyes. She is unable to bring herself to marry him because of the veil. However, Elizabeth remains devoted to him throughout her life and comes to him in his last moments.

Minister of Westbury - The young preacher of Westbury is a zealous man who presents himself in Father Hooper’s company as he takes his last breaths. As Hooper’s life is fading from his body, the minister suggests that the veil should be taken off, and moves as if he were going to move it himself. Hooper refuses to allow this, even when he is so weakened by the approach of death. The young minister accuses him of having committed a grave sin that he was taking unconfessed to judgment, and Hooper retorts back sharply. He tells all the gathered people that he would take the veil off when all of them could take their veils off because he saw that they all wore veils just as black as his.