Both of Hawthorne’s stories show us characters who behave in…

Bоth оf Hаwthоrne's stories show us chаrаcters who behave in troubling or mysterious ways. In "The Minister's Black Veil," Mr. Hooper wears a veil for his entire life and refuses to explain why, even though it ruins his relationships and isolates him from everyone he loves. The townspeople react with fear and suspicion instead of compassion. In "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment," four elderly people get a chance to be young again, but they immediately make the same foolish mistakes they made in their youth. They learn nothing from their past. Your response should explore this question: Based on these two stories, what do you think Hawthorne believes about human nature? Does he think people are basically good, capable of learning and improving themselves? Or does he seem to believe that people are flawed, sinful, or unable to change? Use examples you remember from one or both stories to support your interpretation. Think about how the characters behave, what they choose to do, and what the endings of these stories suggest about whether people can truly understand themselves or become better.