Read the passage from “the minister’s black veil” that describes mr. hooper as he lay on his death bed. what irony is the author expressing in this passage?

from “the minister’s black veil”

all through life that piece of cr. ap had hung between him and the world: it had separated him from the cheerful brotherhood and woman’s love, and kept him in that saddest of all prisons, his own heart; and still it lay upon his face, as if to deepen the gloom of his dark some chamber, and shade him from the sunshine of eternity.

a. mr. hooper is feeling the same kinds of sorrows shared by many people; yet, the veil he wears as a remembrance of those sorrows has separated him from the source of cheer and comfort of others who could have him.

b. as he lies dying, mr. hooper still does not comprehend that the people of his congregation have always loved him and long ago came to understand the reason for the black veil; therefore he could have taken off the veil years ago.

c. in his earlier years of preaching, mr. hooper’s sermons had always shed light and cheer, and now, as he faces death, his many years of wearing the black veil have made him blind.