(1843) A young woman has always thought that the small birthmark on her cheek was rather a charming feature. Certainly none of her many beaus ever thought it detracted from her beauty. But the man she finally married not only sees it as a flaw, but becomes obsessed with this imperfection, and insists on trying medical and alchemical methods to remove it.This obsession leads to the destruction of the couple's happiness, some ethically suspect actions, and, of course, eventual tragedy.The whole piece is heavily allegorical and works as a metaphor for the potential that all of have to let small things bother us more than they should. I actually thought the piece would've been stronger if the message was a little less heavy-handed, and a little less religious.(Previously read... many years ago.) This story was both fascinating and horrifying at the same time. The story is written at the emergence of the scientific method and Aylmer is man, like many in his day, obsessed with science. I feel that the presence of the birthmark on his wife's face and his obsession and revulsion with it is a statement to how women were valued in terms of their outward appearance. It was hard to read Georgina's reactions to her husbands opinion on her birthmark as it showed just how much these superficial values of women were just as much ingrained into her. I predicted the ending but the writing still made the ending exceptional despite the horrid outcome of the story.
What do You think about The Birthmark (2000)?
Character: Alymer, Georgiana Theme: Science vs. Nature, Imperfection, Birthmark
—Drea1130cks
Major characters: Georgiana, Alymer, AminadabThemes: science vs. nature
—anna
GeogrinaAlymer Aminadadthe theme of beauty and science vs nature
—kokokory
