According to Marius Bewley, "the fullness of life ... can only come about through self-surrender, through a refusal to withhold oneself, or any part of one's personality, in a human relationship. These words by Marius Bewley mean that only when a person is truly him/herself can they have human relationships. In other words, one must be themselves instead of hiding behind an invisible veil to fully interact with other people. This insight seems to be apparent in Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story of "The Minister's Black Veil." The author examines this insight through his use of two literary elements, setting and symbolism.

"The Minister's Black Veil" takes place in Milford, Massachusetts during the Puritanism era of early colonial America. The Puritans at the time are God-fearing people, they are a strictly religious group that kept everything simple and in order. The citizens of Milford are appalled at Mr. Hooper...