HW for Sep 7
Choose an excerpt of up to three sentences, from either Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Minister's Black Veil" or E. A. Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado"; to do a text analysis / close reading as detailed as you can.
Photo by Kenneth Moore for the Eclectic Company Theatre
Photo by Kenneth Moore for the Eclectic Company Theatre
ResponderExcluir"A succession of loud and shrill screams, bursting suddenly from the throat of the chained form, seemed to thrust me violently back. For a brief moment I hesitated, I trembled. Unsheathing my rapier, I began to grope with it about the recess; but the thought of an instant reassured me.”
This excerpt from "The Cask of Amontillado” comes as the narrator builds a stone wall to seal off the crypt in which he has imprisoned Fortunato. Until this point, the narrator seems to build his trap with full resolve; he moves from one layer to the next without hesitation. He is in complete control of the situation, as Fortunato is disabled. However, this excerpt reveals a crack in the narrator’s resolve. The fact that the “loud and shrill screams” “thrust [him] violently back” show that the narrator has been physically and emotionally affected by his prisoner. In this moment, the narrator is vulnerable, despite the fact that his chained prisoner poses no threat to him. The reference to “the chained form” instead of “Fortunato” reveals the dehumanization that has taken place. This phrase demonstrates the emotional detachment that the narrator has employed in order to allow the narrator to imprison Fortunato with a clearer conscience.
The following line, “For a brief moment I hesitated, I trembled” is yet another example of the narrator’s vulnerability — a clear departure from his resolve during the initial stages of Fortunato’s imprisonment. This line is rich with clues about the narrator’s mental state. The word “hesitated” reveals the narrator’s uncertainty, while the word “trembled” depicts fear and vulnerability.
The narrator seems to cave to his fear and apprehension in the beginning of the final line, by “groping” in the “recess” with his unsheathed rapier. This segment evokes imagery of the narrator crossing the threshold from outside the prison wall, into the prisoner’s space — a clear representation of surrender. However, the final line brings the narrator back to his initial state of resolve. That the narrator was “reassured” instantaneously by a single thought is evidence that his period of unease was only a fleeting feeling.
"That mysterious emblem was never once withdrawn. It shook with his measured breath, as he gave out the psalm; it threw its obscurity between him and the holy page, as he read the Scriptures; and while he prayed, the veil lay heavily on his uplifted countenance. Did he seek to hide it from the dread Being whom he was addressing? (Hawthorne 33)"
ResponderExcluirThis excerpt from Hawthorne's The Minister's Black Veil reveals a great deal about what the veil on Reverend Hooper's face represents. It is first described by Hawthorne in this section as a "mysterious emblem." This is important because it recognizes that the veil is not just something worn on one day or for decoration, but instead it is evidently something of greater meaning and symbolic nature. Furthermore, the amount of meaning the veil holds for Hooper is expressed by Hawthorne when he writes that it "shook with his measured breath." This represents the veil as an extension of Hooper, demonstrating that it is something that is important to his being.
After establishing the veil’s deep meaning, Hawthorne hints at the true meaning of the object in this section. Hawthorne describes the veil as throwing "obscurity between [Hooper]...and the holy page." This demonstrates that the veil represents something that pulls Hooper away from being a devout member of his religion and, therefore, creates a perception that the veil represents something dark and evil. This is even further expressed when it is described as laying "heavily" on Hooper. Hawthorne is expressing the burdensome nature of the veil. Finally, Hawthorne asks whether Hooper was using the veil to hide from a "dread Being." This furthers the idea that the veil relates to something evil in nature and that Hooper is using it as a tool for hiding from evil.
Overall, this section subtly hints at two main ideas. First, the veil that Hooper wears is something meaningful and will be around for a lengthy period of time. Second, the veil represents some sort of burden Hooper is enduring in order to hide from or deal with a sort of evil that runs counter to his religious beliefs.
Response by Zachary Fagan
ResponderExcluir“I must not only punish but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong” (Poe 216).
In this quote from “The Cask of Amontillado,” the narrator, Montresor, explains the best way to go about an effective revenge. By placing this passage in the first paragraph along with the description of Fortunato’s misdeeds towards Montresor, it is clear that a sort of revenge is on the mind of the narrator. The first person narration in this passage and throughout the story helps to capture the tone and feelings of Montresor, and feels as though the narrator is telling us some sort of secret story. The phrase “I must” placed in the beginning of this passage purposely indicates the deep seated determination to exact the punishment upon his foe. In addition, the repetition of the ‘p’ sound in “punish” and “impunity” helps to indicate the anger in the narrator’s voice, almost as if he is spitting these words at the reader.
Throughout these three sentence, words such as “punish,” “unredressed,” “redresser,” and “wrong.” In the repetition of these words, the narrator aims to not only thoroughly explain his point, but also emphasize it. The last sentence of the passage is particularly interesting, when he says “...equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.” The extent that the narrator goes to in order to get his vengeance, murder, makes the reader wonder what Fortunato could have done in order to make Montresor feel like he needs to kill. It’s in this sentence where the psychological state of the narrator is revealed, and this same thread carries into the rest of the story.
In these three short sentences, much is revealed about divulged about the narrator's intentions and state of mind.
Response by Rebecca Hollister
ResponderExcluir"But there was one person in the village unappalled by the awe with which the black veil had impressed all beside herself. When the deputies returned without an explanation, or even venturing to demand one, she, with the calm energy of her character, determined to chase away the strange cloud that appeared to be settling round Mr. Hooper, every moment more darkly than before. As his plighted wife, it should be her privilege to know what the black veil concealed."
This is the first time that Mr. Hooper's wife is mentioned, and as a reader, given his characterization, I found it surprising that he had one. The language of choice is interesting here as well. She is described ironically as "unappalled" and in other terms, unimpressed. One might think that because she is so close to him, she would be the first to be concerned, but this is clearly not the case. Her character is strongly defined by the choice of words in this excerpt. She seems a slight foil to Mr. Hooper--rational, not over analyzing the symbolism of everything, and calm enough to directly ask the minister about the veil. Hawthorne describes her purpose here being to chase away this dark cloud, this mystery that has not only settled around Mr. Hooper, but the entire town. At first what may have been an oddity is now affecting daily life in the village, and Elizabeth knows it must be stopped.
Additionally, the use of the word “privilege” is interesting. First, the sentence structure implies that as his wife she has somewhat of a right to know what is going on, if anyone does. Second, it can also be interpreted that knowing what the black veil conceals is literally a privilege that should only be granted to worthy people--people close to Mr. Hooper, such as his wife, for instance. The final sentence is also important because it reiterates the implication that the black veil does in fact conceal something--but what it is, readers will never know.
ResponderExcluir“’Do not desert me, though this veil must be between us here on earth. Be mine, and hereafter there shall be no veil over my face, no darkness between our souls! It is but a mortal veil- it is not for eternity! O! you know not how lonely I am, how frightened, to be alone behind my black veil.’” (Hawthorne 40)
Hawthorne highlights the theme of the private and public self throughout “The Minister’s Black Veil.” While Father Hooper must wear the veil on his face during his time on “earth,” all in town could be wearing the veil just as he is except that they hold that truth within themselves. Despite going through the motions of pious people despite gossiping behind each other’s backs, the townspeople value nothing but earthly appearances. Hawthorne makes the distinction between the value of the eternal soul where Hooper will be without the veil versus the soul as it resides on earth through Hooper’s pleadings with Elizabeth. Even Elizabeth who at first could not see what made all the townspeople reject Father Hooper once he donned the black veil, cannot think beyond the earthly self. For example, Father Hooper tries to convince her that “it is but a mortal veil,” and he will be free of ominous shroud once they ascend beyond their earthly selves, but she cannot accept that she cannot see his face ever. By doing so, she reveals that she values her earthly life more than her eternal life. Also, though Father Hooper feels “alone behind my black veil,” the veil only isolates him because he has to wear it physically on his person. He cannot hide the veil as a secret sin like all other in town do. By using the word “desert,” Hawthorne further creates the imagery of isolation as it places Hooper alone in a vast wasteland as the only person forced to own up to his once private sin. Furthermore, his curse to wear the veil acts as an ominous reminder to all the townspeople of what hides within themselves. While Father Hooper refers to the veil as “my black veil,” the veil in a way belongs to everyone as he represents the morality of his clergy as their spiritual leader.
Response from Kiera Geraghty
ExcluirMadeline Kogler
ResponderExcluir"The sexton stood in the porch of Milford meeting-house, pulling busily at the bell-rope. The old people of the village came stooping along the street. Children, with bright faces, tripped merrily beside their parents, or mimicked a graver gait, in the conscious dignity of their Sunday clothes."
In the opening lines of "The Minister's Black Veil," Hawthorne introduces the scene in which the minister, with his black veil, will soon appear, and creates a context in which he can accentuate the specific significance of the veil within the society of the town Milford. Hawthorne propels the reader into this melancholy atmosphere by immediately introducing the sexton, who presumable presides over the churchyard, and most likely over a graveyard as well, something typically found near churches and often mentioned in the writings of Hawthorne. As this sexton busily pulls at his bell-rope, a consonant sound Hawthorne includes to instill in the reader a similar unnerving bong of a loud bell, Hawthorne invites the reader to immerse himself into the society of Milford by establishing the threshold of the 'porch of Milford meeting-house' in which the reader can enter into the church as an equal to all the villagers who are collectively doing the same. Now that the reader is absorbed in the senses and general atmosphere provided, Hawthorne refocuses his description on the people of the village, and how their presence and behavior both contributes to and contrasts the gloomy atmosphere created above. First Hawthorne mentions the elders of the village, who "came stooping along the street." While Hawthorne rarely mentions the "old people" relative to the middle-aged or the children throughout the story, he consistently uses them as a symbol of weariness and exhaustion. In contrast, Hawthorne immediately turns to mention the children, who maintained "bright faces," and who "tripped merrily" despite the heavy gloom that seems to daunt the older people. Though this stark contrast seems incongruous, Hawthorne includes details such as their 'tripping,' their mimicking of the 'graver gait,' or even their unsettling 'conscious dignity of their Sunday clothes' that seem to suggest the falseness of their merriment. The black veil later comes to symbolize the visibility of the minister's sins, who, unlike the people of the society, stunts his tendency to hide his sins and instead forces the presence of sin into every event and encounter he partakes in.
"THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat. At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitively settled — but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish but punish with impunity."
ResponderExcluirThese opening lines of "The Cask of Amontillado" set the mood and outline the plot of Poe's macabre tale. We know immediately from the first line that this story will be of "revenge." And from words such as "thousand injuries" we can be sure that this revenge will be brutal and violent. Poe then uses a technique to connect more personally with the reader by having his narrator use the term "You." By doing this, Poe establishes some familiarity between the reader and our narrator. The narrator continues to swear his revenge by stating that not only will he get his revenge, but he will do so without risk of being caught. After all, he says that revenge is not really revenge unless the aggressor gets away cleanly. Words such as "definitiveness" and "resolved" suggest the narrator is confident, urgent, and unwavering in his attempt at revenge. From just these first four opening lines we could identify our narrator maybe not as a murderer yet, but definitely as someone dangerous and unpredictable.
"I HAD completed the eighth, the ninth, and the tenth tier. I had finished a portion of the last and the eleventh; there remained but a single stone to be fitted and plastered in. I struggled with its weight; I placed it partially in its destined position."
ResponderExcluirThis passage takes place just as Montresor is preparing to seal Fortunato's fate in the cellars amongst the bones and bodies of those who have died before him, implicitly at the hands of older, ancestral Monstresors. Montresor has completed ten tiers of the stone wall that will imprison Fortunato, with each stone and tier taking him considerable time and effort to erect. In this first sentence, the reader detects no hint of remorse or reconsideration, simply a frank description of events. This is in accordance with the overall tone of the piece thus far, which characterizes Montresor from the very first paragraph as hell bent on revenge on Fortunato for some unknown slight. He never wavers from his task until this point, undertaking the convincing and imprisoning of Fortunato with malicious, unflinching, premeditated efficiency.
After the first sentence, however, Montresor hesitates. He has already built ten tiers of a wall that will imprison his friend, and most of the final tier. Only one stone remains, and of course it is this stone that is the heaviest of them all, as it carries its own weight as well as the weight of Fortunato's death. Montresor "struggle[s] with its weight," hesitating to complete the morbid task he has embarked on. Here, Poe gives us the small glimmer of sympathy that we have been looking for in Montresor. He allows us to identify one last scrap of humanity and compassion in our protagonist, and for a moment as readers, we think that perhaps Montresor might in fact tear down that which he has built and free his friend.
Montresor continues, but with less gusto. He only "partially place[s] it in its destined position." Here, Poe also gives us a subtle look into Montresor's inner thoughts. Despite the preparation and process necessary for him to carry out this deed, he still believes that the stone is "destined" to be there, sealing away the passage and Fortunato.
These three sentences together provide a crucial look into Montresor's thoughts about his actions, and allow the reader a moment of pathos with a protagonist who is primarily void of emotion. However, seconds later, after conversing one last time with Fortunato, Montresor decides to follow through, killing both his friend and the reader's hopes of a happy ending.
"Mr. Hooper, a gentlemanly person. of about thirty, though still a bachelor, was dressed with due clerical neatness, as if a careful wife had starched his band, and brushed the weekly dust from his Sunday's garb. There was but one thing remarkable in his appearance. Swathed about his forehead, and hanging down over his face, so low as to be shaken by his breath."
ResponderExcluirThe beginning sentence from this selection immediately establishes the main character, Hooper, to be someone who is very proper and put together. It serves as a sharp contrast and adds more intrigue when the Black Veil is described. With everything else about Hooper's appearance being proper, the black veil stands out and allows the story to be centered around its mystery. This juxtaposing small description sets up the rest of the story and allows it to develop.