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The Unattainable Ideal In The Birth-Mark By Nathaniel Hawthorne

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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 …show more content…

As the story reveals, Georgiana began to have “A heightened flush of the cheek, a slight irregularity of breath, a quiver of the eyelid, a hardly perceptible tremor. . .” (Hawthorne 159). This portrays the physical toll that Aylmer’s relentless pursuit of perfection takes on Georgiana as her health begins to deteriorate as his ambition serves as a distinct reminder of the dangers of striving for an unattainable ideal and the tragic consequences that can result from playing god. Another example is when Georgiana is reaching her final breath as she exclaims “Aylmer, dearest Aylmer, I am dying!” (Hawthorne 160). Accentuating Georgiana’s awareness of her deteriorating health, is a vital moment in the story. Her declaration of her death finally makes Aylmer realize that this role of “god” and trying to attain perfection wasn’t worth the final result as it had the tragic consequence of killing the love of his life. In conclusion, “The Birth-Mark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne serves as a thought-provoking critique of society’s obsession with perfection, truly showing the dangers of striving for an unattainable

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