The story all revolves around a symbol, just like in Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockingbird." This symbolic story is about a priest who decided to wear a black veil one day, for the rest of his life. This was to demonstrate that he was guilty, and he wanted to hide his shame. We never find out why he felt guilty. Some may argue that he committed adultery, and some may argue otherwise. His main message is that everyone in this world wears a mask. People lie, and their true face is hidden.