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The Birthmark By Nathaniel Hawthorne: An Analysis

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Nature can be described as the natural physical world including plants, animals and other products of the earth without the interference of human beings. However, the use of science has made it possible for humans to affect nature as they see fit. The short story “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne tells of a man obsessed with science and the power it holds. Aylmer a “man of science” falls in love with a beautiful woman named Georgiana. Aylmer makes Georgiana his wife because to him she is perfect, except for the tiny red birthmark on her cheek. Aylmer insists that this “flaw” keeps his wife from being perfectly beautiful. Obsessed with his ability in science to “perfect” nature, Aylmer asked Georgiana to allow him to remove the tiny red mark from her cheek. In this story Hawthorne shows that nature is not meant to be perfect, because we as humans are products of nature, and therefore inevitably flawed. By trying to perfect Georgiana with the removal of the birthmark, Aylmer unknowingly robs her of her humanity because perfection cannot exist in nature. …show more content…

Where Aylmer “A man of science” sees his wife’s birthmark as a flaw to be corrected, his assistant “Aminadab” who represents “man's physical nature” thought that the birthmark only enhanced her beauty. Aminadab states in the story “If she were my wife, I’d never part with that birthmark.” As a man more of nature than science, Aminadab understands that it is this very flaw that makes Georgiana natural and respectively beautiful. Aylmer however sees things from a scientific point of view, which means he believes that nature can be altered as he pleases. Therefore the birthmark will always be a problem to be solved for

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1165 Words | 5 Pages

Science vs naturality is a common battle in society. Some scientists believe that science has similarities with nature. Hawthorne explains the occupation of Aylmer as a scientist (447). Aylmer believed he can remove the birth mark from Georgina’s face. The birth mark symbolizes the natural beauty that Georgina has.

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(147) At the end of the story, Aylmer accomplishes the surgical procedure of removing the birth mark; however, it killed his wife in the process. Hawthorne uses The Birth Mark as a lesson to be learned that everyone cannot be perfect. Georgiana represents the closest state to perfection that someone can get in this world; although, Aylmer is not satisfied with that. Howard states, “Aylmer feels that the mark may render him unnecessary to Georgiana.(135)

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208 Words | 1 Pages

Nobody is perfect and no one ever will be. This theme shows up often in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story, The Birthmark. In this story, a scientist named Aylmer becomes obsessed with removing a hand-shaped birthmark from his wife’s, Georgiana, visage. After a series of tests, he is successful, but Georgiana becomes perfect and can no longer stay in the mortal world, so she dies. The Birthmark demonstrates how foolish it is to strive for perfection and this is revealed throughout the story using narration.

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590 Words | 3 Pages

The birthmark itself symbolizes morality. Aylmer, this brilliant scientist and husband to Georgiana, sees it has as fatal flaw. It also represents this imperfection of human nature. Nothing is perfect in nature, but science can help improve to make it seem flawless.

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791 Words | 4 Pages

When Aylmer and Georgiana got married, Georgiana was taken from her mothers home, making her complete dependent on Aylmer and his opinions. In addition to this, Aylmer’s belief hat he is better than God, and has the ability to remove Georgiana’s birthmark, creates inequality in their relationship. Finally, due to Georgiana’s obsession with what Aylmer thinks of her, paired with Aylmer's rude looks and comments, leads her to do something

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871 Words | 4 Pages

Later on Aylmer would come to understand how connected the birthmark was to Georgiana, just as Aminadab had understood earlier. Selfish and blinded by his obsession he continues the course of removing the birthmark costing Georgiana her

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1470 Words | 6 Pages

As you can see evidence suggests that Aylmer has love for both science and Georgiana, but his love for science exceeds more greatly than his love for Georgiana. Immediately after getting married Aylmer asked Georgiana to get the birthmark removed, and of course by the use of science. It seems that he wants to treat her like a simple experiment nothing more. Aylmer states that it shocks him that something so little ruined her appearance, and tries to convince Georgiana to scientifically get rid of the mark. Hawthorne provides proof by writing, “No, dearest Georgiana, you came so nearly perfect from the hand of Nature, that this slightest possible defect----which we hesitate whether to term a defect or a beauty----shocks me, as being

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921 Words | 4 Pages

Imagine a world where imperfections are seen as blemishes to be eradicated, where the desire for flawlessness consumes both individuals and the society at large. The short story “The Birth-Mark,” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, weaves a tale that not only captivates our imagination but also forces us to confront the consequences of our relentless pursuit of an unattainable ideal. It revolves around a scientist named Aylmer and his wife Georgiana. Georgiana has a small birthmark on her cheek, and Aylmer becomes obsessed with removing it, seeing it as a flaw rather than a beautiful part of his wife. As the story goes on, it reveals various issues prominent in society and human nature in general as it serves as a powerful critique of society’s obsession

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717 Words | 3 Pages

In the story “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, he uses several techniques to help build his story. Hawthorne tells a story of a man of science whose name was Aylmer. He married a beautiful women named Georgiana, although she was quite beautiful she had a birthmark on her face which, in Aylmer’s eyes was an imperfection. Aylmer tries to perfect Georgiana, but in the end Aylmer’s attempts to change Georgiana causes him to lose her. Aylmer does not accept the idea of imperfections in people.

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408 Words | 2 Pages

It shows that our flaws make up a large part of who we are which make it very difficult to separate the two. To remove it would only result in failure. Aylmer finally is able to remove “the last crimson tint of the birthmark -- that sole token of human imperfection” (13). The mark shows that people are inherently imperfect and it’s what makes us human. Once Aylmer removes that imperfection, Georgiana dies because it is impossible to obtain perfection as a person.

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941 Words | 4 Pages

In The Birthmark, Hawthorne depicts the obsession for perfection, the tole it takes on one and the consequences it has. The quest for perfection is unrealistic and unobtainable as we are only mere humans incapable of reconstructing our DNA. In The Birthmark, Hawthorne tells the story of a woman named Georgiana and her scientist husband Aylmer, who are both fixated on a birthmark similar to the look of a tiny human hand. Aylmer is disgusted by Georgiana’s birthmark, wanting to please her husband Georgiana is willing to do anything for him to look at her in a normal manner “Danger is nothing to me;for life which this hateful mark

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1188 Words | 5 Pages

Georgiana is a representation of human life and her birthmark is a symbol of the deep-rooted imperfections all humans have. Aylmer begins to dream about her birthmark which leads him to believe that the mark is more than just a physical imperfection but linked to who she is as a person. This symbolism shows that the imperfections in humans are related to what makes a person unique. The understanding that human imperfections will never be removed leads the reader to know that the only way for Georgiana to be perceived as perfect would to be inhuman. Aylmer eliminated her one imperfection and erased her humanity with it.

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416 Words | 2 Pages

Aylmer is consumed with a pursuit of perfection in his scientific studies and also in nature. The leads to Aylmer being appalled at the blemish on his wife Georgiana’s cheek. He tells Georgiana “you came so nearly perfect from the hand of Nature, that this slightest possible defect..shocks me, as being the visible mark of earthly imperfection” (216). This is the catalyst for Aylmer's seeking for perfection in his wife who is a natural being. Aylmer recognizes that there is a “fatal flaw of humanity, which Nature...stamps ineffaceable on all her productions” (216).

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436 Words | 2 Pages

The phrase “No, dearest Georgiana, you came so nearly perfect from the hand of Nature, that this slightest possible defect, which we hesitate whether to term a defect or a beauty, shocks me, as being the visible mark of earthly imperfection”(212) was used to illustrate a point of Aylmer's obsession with the mark and how he is not satisfied with his wife's current aesthetics. Aylmer loves Georgiana

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717 Words | 3 Pages

When Aylmer demanded assistance from his servant, Aminadab, with Georgiana who was in a “lifeless form,” he muttered to himself: “If she were my wife, I’d never part with the birthmark” (Hawthorne 343). The ironic aspect of this part of the story is the servant, the scientist's personal laboratory rat, knew that the removal of such a tiny “defect” would end in a great loss. The “man of science,” the “philosopher,” the faith in man’s “ultimate control over nature,” all meant nothing. He could not see past his wife’s imperfection and look at what was truly important, her inner beauty. Destruction of beauty in this story, “The Birthmark,” is developed through the use of symbolism, conflict, and irony.

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