Perfection In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Birthmark

Perfection in a world of imperfection.

“The Birthmark” is a story of confusing sorrow about a man and a woman whose differences numerous problems for the two. Aylmer a renowned scientist of his time has taken it upon himself to marry a woman of great perfection and beauty. As Aylmer admires his wife, he notices a peculiar “birthmark” (306) upon his wife’s cheek in the shape of a “tiny hand” (305). Thus making the most beautiful woman flawed and imperfect. For a man that strives such great perfection it has become his mission to convince his wife of removing it and finding a way to do so. To Aylmer the hand is “crimson” (304), a reminder of sin and immortality increasing his obsession with removing it. This obsession with perfecting what’s imperfect strays him from seeing the good in his wife, causing him to kill her in the end. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s

One of the symbols eminently in the story is that of the “tiny hand” (305) imprinted on Georgianna’s face. When it comes to the birthmark on her face there is an array of emotions. Many men find this attractive as if her beauty doesn’t already draw them in, the “tiny hand” (305) intrigues them even more. Nathaniel Hawthorne states that “many a desperate swan would have risked their lives for the privilege of pressing his lips to the mysterious hand” (305) showing us the amount of infatuation with it. It is here that we understand Aylmer’s association of the hand with “sin” (305) as it causes most men to behave erratically. Just like Eve enticed Adam to eat the forbidden fruit off of the tree. Many woman refer to it as the “bloody hand” (305)