Analysis Of Romanticism In The Birthmark By Nathaniel Hawthorne

Nathaniel Hawthorne was part of the Romantic movement during the Gothic time period. Romanticism tends to include some type of interpretation of nature and its beauty. Hawthorne takes this characteristic and contrasts it in view of light versus darkness. In his writings, the audience can see the nature and beauty in terms of light being the good, while man’s sinful nature is looked upon in an opposite and dark way. In “The Birthmark” Nathaniel Hawthorne shows the battle between accepting one’s true, natural beauty and man’s inability to perceive it and appreciate what nature has bestowed. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story “The Birthmark” portrays the foolishness of chasing perfection to create the perfect being, and by doing so, intruding into

This character is an archetype of the “natural” man, unlike Aylmer. His name proves this point by being a predecessor of David and an early figure in the Book of Genesis. Another point to further this observation is that Hawthorne describes Aminadab with the words “vast strength, his shaggy hair, his smoky aspect, and the indescribable earthiness that incrusted him, he seemed to represent man’s physical nature; while Aylmer’s slender figure, and pale, intellectual face, were no less apt a type of the spiritual element” (Hawthorne 649). With this physical appearance being stated, it can be concluded that Aminadab is more of a natural and strong man compared to Aylmer. Another quotation from the story about Aminadab furthers the knowledge that Aminadab is an archetype of the natural man. He states, “If she were my wife, I’d never part with that birthmark” (Hawthorne 649). This means that a real man of nature, rather than a man of science, no matter how rugged he may look, is better. Each character plays as a important instrument to play the theme that nature cannot be bothered with and with this, physical perfection cannot be achieved through science and technology. A second key focus on Hawthorne’s theme is