Nathaniel Hawthorne does not use this short-story as a tale to depict the vivid yet appreciated memories of his community. Rather, the "Minister's Black Veil" is used as a way of describing the hypocritical Puritan community, using the theme of accepting sin to question and challenge the righteousness and morality of others to impose judgment. Reverend Hooper, a reverend of a Puritan community, comes up to mass one day wearing a black veil. The individuals of the community are greatly perturbed that such respected and revered figure is wearing such a dark and grim symbol in an honored situation. Even more, they start spreading rumors, claiming that the minister is a sinner who yet to accept his sins. In this context they are right, but need not must they show judgment because they, too, bear sins like the minister. Furthermore, by wearing the veil that symbolizes sin, the minister is essentially choosing to accept the presence of sin and admit that he has sinned. Those who judge him not only come out as ignorant to the presence of sins, but examples of the exact definition of hypocrisy that Hawthorn's community lived with. In the end the minister dies with the veil still covering his face, ultimately suggesting that even in death humans are not free of sin and death itself is not the key to freedom from sins -- repentance is