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Symbolism In The Birthmark By Nathaniel Hawthorne

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Symbolism in “The Birthmark” In “The Birthmark” Nathaniel Hawthorne gives us a story that is telling us on some level to accept your own, as well as other people's imperfections or it could destroy not only your relationship with them, but also your relationship with yourself. In this story Hawthorne uses symbolism to show us exactly how this kind of behavior can lead to not just ruining relationships, but in this case even death. In “The Birthmark” Hawthorne uses a wide variety of objects and people such as a withering flower, a birthmark, poison, Aylmer's dream and Georgiana's death, and even a character named Aminidab to symbolize that nobody is in fact perfect and we all must accept each others flaws in order to have good and healthy relationships. The first and most important use of symbolism we receive is that of the birthmark. We learn that, “in the centre of Georgians's left cheek, there was a singular mark, deeply interwoven, as it were, with the texture and substance of her face” (205). Upon further reading Hawthorne tells us that, “Its shape bore not a little similarity to the human hand” (205). Georgiana had a birthmark right in the middle of her left cheek that resembled a tiny hand in which Aylmer thought was very imperfect. The birthmark symbolizes mortality or an imperfection of …show more content…

He provides the story with a character that identifies contrast between the others. He is Aylmer's assistant although we tend to get the impression that he may actually be smarter than Aylmer in a way. As he realizes that Aylmer has killed Georgiana, he begins to laugh. He believes that Aylmer has simply got what was coming to him. He warned him that she already is perfect and says, “If she were my wife, I'd never part with that birthmark”(208). He sees her as perfect as she already is. He sort of symbolizes how we should view others and find perfection in people's

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Everyone comes across something in their life that speaks to them--a symbol as it will be called. In the book, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, there are many symbols, but there is one that really stands out above the rest, and that is the mark on Dimmesdale’s chest. The Scarlet Letter’s primary focus is on the life of Hester Prynne, who had an affair with someone and was accused of the crime and forced to wear a scarlet letter A for the rest of her life. The mark on Arthur Dimmesdale’s chest (although it was never truly stated what the mark actually was) can be seen as guilt in physical form which slowly begins to show over time.

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These scholars’ arguments contribute to the story, “The Birth-Mark”, Nathanial Hawthorne expresses the common personal issue that individuals possess. The Birth-Mark was about a man named Aylmer and his obsession of science and the birth mark on his wife’s face. The birth

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948 Words | 4 Pages

“Pray do not look at it again. I never can forget that convulsive shudder”(Hawthorne 5).We see how Aylmer is controlled by obsession of the birthmark and Georgiana has become his project to achieve perfection, but in dark romanticism nature is not meant to be perfect. Aylmer also has a assistant named Aminadab who can be seen as “nature” or “earthiness” because he says “If she were my wife, I’d never part with that birthmark. ”(Hawthorne 4).  

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Written almost two centuries ago, “The Birthmark” is an early form of our present-day obsession with a flawless, perfect physical state. Our society has numerous ways of showing just how far they will go to show their passion for physical perfection. Like in “The Birthmark” our society makes physical changes through plastic surgeries because for one reason or another they are not happy with themselves. While most of the time people make their own decisions about changing their look, it was Aylmer who convicted Georgina to let him change her look.

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211 Words | 1 Pages

Georgiana was born with a birthmark on her cheek, unlike everybody else, Aylmer, her husband, used to be obsessed with it and was trying everything he could to remove it. That birthmark used to represent a challenge for Aylmer. Aylmer had the chance to marry Georgiana, an extremely beautiful woman not only by her appearance but also by her character, she is the perfect wife a man can ever find. However, he was not satisfied with her natural beauty. He wanted her to be perfect, in other words, he wanted her to be supernatural.

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PERFECTION! In “The Birthmark” the theme is it’s foolish to strive for perfection. In “The Birthmark” Aylmer is disgusted by this mark on his wife’s cheek, and because she’s almost perfect to him, he wants to remove the mark. In the story Aylmer says “No, dearest Georgiana, you came so nearly perfect from the hand of nature…” and “...as being the visible mark of imperfection.”

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The theme of a man’s obsession with striving for perfection is expressed in Hawthorne’s short story, “The Birthmark.” The protagonist of this work of literature is an incredibly talented scientist by the name of Aylmer who has recently married a remarkably attractive woman whose name is Georgiana. Despite being breathtakingly beautiful, Georgiana has a birthmark in the shape of a red hand on her left cheek, which disgusts Aylmer to a rather massive extent. An example of his unhealthy fixation upon Georgiana’s birthmark would be on the fourth page of this work of literature,“At all the seasons which should have been their happiest, he invariably and without intending it, nay, in spite of a purpose to the contrary, reverted to this one disastrous

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Without the mark, there isn’t anything unique that expresses who that character is. There is also text explaining that the mark and Georgiana’s heart are connected, so the mark is what keeps her alive. Another word that could be used instead of “symbol” is “logo” which could serve the author’s purpose of simultaneously providing religious overtones while still secretly speaking to the reader. The evidence suggesting this is “logo” being defined as “A term used by Greek (esp. Hellenistic and Neo-Platonist) philosophers in certain

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The dynamics of Aylmer’s and Georgian’s marriage become intertwined when it is shown evident that in Aylmer’s opinion, the mark is “like a bas relief of ruby on the whitest marble” (214). His refers to it as a stain which suggests he views it as devaluing, or as marring her figure. He perceives it as a defect, and thus not of her “nearly perfect” self (212). Would Aylmer ever truly love her for who she was physically? These components of Aylmer’s character suggest that because Georgiana could not attain perfection with the mark, and he was willing to put her at risk by removing

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He can not stop himself from being drawn to perfection. Georgiana finds out that her birthmark shocks her husband and he is bothered by it. Georgiana finally realizes it when Alymar says “Georgiana . . . has it ever occurred to you that the mark upon your cheek might be removed?” After talking about her it several times with Aylmer, Georgiana decides to have it removed by him.

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998 Words | 4 Pages

Nathaniel Hawthorne 's short story, "The Birthmark" shows the silliness of a crazed scientist named, Aylmer aspiring to create a perfect human being, which is Georgiana, and by doing so, he opens the prospect of rivaling nature with his own scientific skillfulness. He uses symbolism of the birthmark to show how science 's attempt to ultimate failure often leads to control of nature, foolish obsession, and mortality. Georgiana is Aylmer 's wife. She is beautiful, intelligent, and a caring person. Her only imperfection is a tiny-red birthmark resembling the shape of a hand.

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564 Words | 3 Pages

According to the narrator, every living thing is flawed in some way, nature’s way of reminding us that every living thing eventually dies. Aylmer’s revulsion for his wife’s birthmark suggests the horror he feels at the prospect of death. He is a smart man, but his misinterpretation of the symbol on Georgiana’s face leads him astray. He mistakenly comes to believe that if he can root out this symbol of transience, it will mean that he has the power to prolong life indefinitely. Aylmer also mistakenly believes that the birthmark represents Georgiana’s moral decrepitude and spiritual flaws even though she isn’t a woman prone to sin at all.

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170 Words | 1 Pages

Hawthorne’s characterization of Aylmer once again shows that he perceives scientists as determined and persistent in attaining perfection. The birthmark seems to startle Aylmer as he senses human imperfection. Since he is a symbol of the spiritual essence of nature, he wishes to cleanse Georgiana of the birthmark. When Aylmer shudders, he displays his disdain for the imperfection on his wife’s cheek. This causes Georgiana to faint as she is startled by Aylmer’s reaction to the birthmark.

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743 Words | 3 Pages

Equally Aylmer and Dr. Rappiccini, both characters in Hawthorne’s works causes destruction of human life with selfish aims to perfect the woman of their choice. In the case of Aylmer’s love interest in science, just as with the case of Beatrice’s father, blinds him to the true beauty and humanity of the woman before him. Aylmer views Georgiana’s birthmark as a symbol of imperfection and tries to remove it. At the end of the story, Georgiana say, "My poor Aylmer," she repeated, with a more than human tenderness, "you have aimed loftily; you have done nobly. Do not repent that with so high and pure a feeling, you have rejected the best the earth could offer.

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1268 Words | 6 Pages

Each of the tragic flaws they possessed seemed to complement the flaw of the other partner. While Aylmer strives for perfection in an obsessive way, Georgiana’s submissive character contributes to his ability to proceed in his actions. Her submissive nature can be attributed to her time period’s expectations which impacted her choices leading to her tragic death. Georgiana’s flaw of conforming benefits Aylmer in a negative way. Due to her conforming nature she agrees with her husband’s disgust of the birthmark and his plan of removal.

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