Feminism in Hawthorne's

Feminism in Hawthorne's "The Minister's Black Veil" The character of Elizabeth in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Minister's Black Veil seems to be a somewhat forgotten symbol of feminism. I was struck with Elizabeth's strength and determination when she confronted her husband in public. It seems as if Hawthorne is placing Elizabeth as a strong female character in order to further explore the ridiculous over-morality of the male character of the minister. When Elizabeth confronts her husband …

…his parishiners realize the heavy impact of their sins. He is wearing on the outside what he feels his parishoners are wearing on the inside. "What... has made this piece of crepe so awful? ... I look around me and lo! On every visage a Black Veil!" I think the minister probably would have taken the veil off in life had his parrishoners not been so afraid of something such as a simple piece of cloth.