Nathaniel Hawthorne illustrates a theme of the foolishness in striving for perfection in his short story “The Birthmark.” Hawthorne’s main protagonist, Alymer, is an alchemist completely devoted to his passion for science, but as many men do, finds himself in love with an otherwise beautiful woman named Georgiana; otherwise beautiful because Georgiana possesses a birth defect upon her check in the small shape of a crimson hand. “Alymer’s somber imagination was not long in rendering the birthmark a frightful object, causing him more trouble and horror than ever Georgiana’s beauty, whether of soul or sense, had given him delight.” Alymer can no longer accept that his “perfect” wife has but one flaw, and begins to contemplate its removal.Alymer, as we learn, is a man of science. “He had devoted himself, however, too unreservedly to scientific studies ever to be weaned from them by any second passion. His love for his young wife might prove the stronger of the two; but if could only be by intertwining itself with his love of science, and uniting the strength of the latter to his own.” His passion for science is to become the “savior” to his own personal distaste with his wife’s birthmark, or so he believes. Georgiana, who is beginning to feel self-conscious about her birthmark after seeing Alymer’s “convulsive shudder” after glancing at the mark, eventually gives in to his distaste for her “flaw.” “Let the attempt be made at whatever risk. Danger is nothing to me; for life, while this hateful mark makes me the object of your horror and disgust, life is a burden which I would fling down with joy.” Georgiana’s devotion to her husband becomes the only reason she needs in allowing him to create an elixir for removing this crimson mark, and cannot bear him looking at her with disgust.Hawthorne uses foreshadowing to illustrate his theme of the foolishness in striving for perfection. Alymer has a very vivid dream about Georgiana’s birthmark. “He had fancied himself with his servant Aminadab, attempting an operation for the removal of the birthmark; but the deeper went the knife, the deeper sank the hand, until at length its tiny grasp appeared to have caught hold of Georgiana’s heart; whence, however, her husband was inexorably resolved to cut or wrench it away.” Hawthorne illustrates that to attempt to play God, to tamper with nature, can take a turn for the worst.Although written for readers in 1846, this central theme illustrated by Hawthorne in “The Birthmark” resonates with today’s society. The extremes in which people will go to be perfect has unfortunately created a standard of beauty that cannot be obtained without intervention from science. Hawthorne attempts, even in 1846, to illustrate that nature has already created a central flaw in man-we will all die. Nobody will live forever. Accepting “ourselves” is crucial to defeating “death,” although inevitably this will ultimately happen to all of us. The Birth Mark is a short story by 19th century American author, Nathaniel Hawthorne. This is an excellent, fast read with an enjoyable twist. Aylmer is a scientist who decided to leave his career to marry his wife, Georgiana. After marrying, Aylmer notices a prominent birth-mark on his wife's face and begins to obsess about it. Aylmer has a lot of selfish and superficial qualities to his character. To me, he is not a likable character. Georgiana goes along with his ideas because she loves her husband even though the birth mark has never bothered her before. Combined, both Aylmer and Georgiana demonstrate Hawthorne's view toward marriage.I really enjoy Hawthorne's romantic style. He is one of my favorite 19th century authors. The Birth Mark in particular is an easier read (at least for me) than some of his other works. The big question is: what does the birth-mark represent? To some, it might be the impossible pursuit of perfect. To others, it might be the husband/wife relationship. It could also have a Judeo-Christian undertone of the birth mark being sin. Regardless, it is a great short story. I highly recommend it to American lit fans, but it is also pretty accessible to the casual reader as well.
What do You think about The Birth-Mark (2000)?
Does Aylmer really love his wife, or just how useful she might prove to his scientific ego?
—ella
Centralized theme: Imperfection, God vs. ScienceMajor Character(s): Aylmer, Georgiana
—amc52586
Characters: Aylemer, Georgiana, Aminadab.Themes: Perfection, Science vs Nature
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