In Annihilation, Jeff VanderMeer consistently refers to the enhanced and seemingly “unnatural” purity of Area X. This is particularly curious and the concept of Area X being pristine has come up in class several times. The conversation held around the topic have been incredibly interesting: discussing the irony of Area X’s perfection, the juxtaposition of contamination and immaculacy, and the concept of humanity being what is unclean and corruptive have all added to my experience of VanderMeer’s confusing and mysterious world. One relationship that we have not yet discussed but I now believe is crucial to understanding the novel is the connection between the biologist’s “flame” and the question of purity. Fire, in literature and otherwise,
"Women Beware Science: 'The Birthmark.'." Short Story Criticism, edited by Rachelle Mucha and Thomas J. Schoenberg, vol. 89, Gale, 2006. Literature Resource Center, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/H1420071520/LitRC?u=troy25957&sid=LitRC&xid=268bd900. Accessed 8 Dec. 2017. Originally published in Critical Essays on Hawthorne's Short Stories, edited by Albert J. von Frank, G. K. Hall & Co., 1991, pp. 164-172.
...kes a great argument showing us how the positive results outweigh the negative. Contamination isn’t so bad after all.
?I have already administered agents powerful enough to do aught except to change your entire physical system. Only one thing remains to be tried. If that fail us we are ruined." (Nathaniel Hawthorne) Out of Nathaniel Hawthorne?s short story ?The Birthmark?, this quote shows the uninterrupted quest to eliminate nature 's flaws through unproven scientific methods, and by doing so, disrupting nature?s divine progression. Hawthorne articulates a story of an eminent chemical scientist, Aylmer, and a wife of great beautify, Georgian, who has a red crimson ?hand-like? stain on her cheek. Shortly after married, Aylmer is alarmed by Georgian?s imperfection then become obsessed to rid Georgian of it. Throughout ?The birthmark?, Hawthorne illustrates man?s lethal devotion to science, although he is temporarily distracted by love; a heroine devoted to her husband; and the ultimate fate the both of them will surrender to.
It is hard to say that one is human and perfect at the same time. Human beings are not capable of achieving perfection; if that would be so, humans would stop being humans. By nature the human race is full of flaws, some appearing as early as in the womb. From defects in the body, to defects in the mind, to the mistakes that one makes in quotidian life, it is impossible to deny that human imperfection exists. To try to manipulate humans into perfection is not only impossible, but it takes away the very essence of being a human being. The short story “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorn, illustrates this teaching through the character of Aylmer, an ambitious and devoted scientist who is appalled by his wife Georgiana’s birthmark, believing it to be a perceivable sign of her human flaws and eagerly waits to remove it from her cheek. This story raises riveting questions such as, what is humanity all about, can human beings ever achieve perfection through science, is Hawthorn attacking science or a wider issue, and more significantly, should science take the place of God. Through the use of symbolism in “The Birthmark”, Hawthorn indirectly implies that imperfection is an essential part of being human and that science should not interfere; thus he is hinting his personal views toward science and its limitations over nature.
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Birthmark”, is the story of a crazed scientist whose strive for perfection not only leads to the death of his beautiful wife, but the attempt of man to have power over nature. It follows the story of Aylmer and his obsession with removing the birthmark off his beautiful wife, Georgiana. “His unnatural fixation to his wife’s birthmark even consumes him in his sleep as he dreams of cutting it off much like scraping an apple off its skin.” (Snodgrass 29). This narrative explores the themes of perfection, and the conflict between science and the natural world.
A vacuum cleaner is a device that uses an air pump to suck up dirt into a dust bag for later disposal. In Howard Nemerov's "The Vacuum," a widowed husband mourns the death of his wife while he observes their vacuum in his quiet house. As he studies the vacuum he notices it "sulks in the corner closet" (line 2). His observation sets the tone for the poem and personifying the household device. As he continues to personify the vacuum throughout the poem, he notes the lifelessness of the vacuum, memories of his wife using the vacuum, and how "life is cheap as dirt" (line 13) but dirt is still everywhere even when she is gone. The speaker in "The Vacuum," uses the vacuum cleaner to symbolize his wife's death, the connection to his wife, and how he perceives his life after her death.
In "The Birthmark" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hawthorne explores the theme science versus nature through Aylmer, who exemplifies the “man of [scientific]” knowledge (Hawthorne 211). Georgiana, on the other hand, is naïve to the science of her husband and would much rather leave nature alone, as seen when she is asked to remove a perfect flower: “It is magical!’ cried Georgiana. ‘I dare not to touch it” (Hawthorne 219). Aylmer creates inventions that manipulate nature for performing miracles; however, Aylmer’s ambitions to strive for human perfection ultimately kill his wife, Georgiana.
Too often in this world does man attempt to perfect nature. Tampering with this sort of element most commonly leads to a disaster to come extent. Because man is never satisfied, he is constantly vying for perfection, regardless of the outcome. Such is the case in Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story, 'The Birthmark.' Aylmer's persistent attempt to perfect nature is the cause of Georgiana's demise and the affirmation that when man tampers with such a powerful component terrible things may occur.
The orchestra began with the first piece called Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg which was composed by Richard Wagner and presented in the year 1868. The piece begins with a crescendo piano and strings. The opening bars represent the motive of the Meistersinger (Mastersinger) themselves of the 16th century Nurnberg. The piece starts with main them of the Meistersingers themselves, which can be heard throughout the piece. The beginning creates an atmosphere of peace and a feeling of happiness. The piece was scored for following instruments: one piccolo, two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, bass drum, cymbals and strings including 1st and second violins, violas, cellos and double basses. After the powerful opening ends, the oboe, flute and the clarinet offer a musical theme representing the character Walter, a stranger who has appeared in Nurnberg. This piece is quickly joined by strings and soon the whole orchestra to make grand and spectacular marching-like music. This ends to reveal a soft and swift music which created an atmosphere of calm and sereneness. The second part of the Prelude begins with a fugal distortion of the Meistersinger theme. This part is made from wind instruments with the strings adding a humorous tinge and other similar effects. The third part begins with the brasses combining to with soon with the orchestra to create a grandiose march-like effect again. Wagner’s sense of humor is apparent in his use of instruments to represents parts which help create an atmosphere of comedy adding much laughter to the piece without ever listening or seeing the play. The music stand alone by itself as its own piece and does not require the play t...
"Science frees us in many ways… from the bodily terror which the savage feels. But she replaces that, in the minds of many, by a moral terror which is far more overwhelming".
Based on Mark Watney’s character, it is bold to state that he played a key role in bringing out the friction between science and the natural world. As a Botanist and Engineer, Watney’s actions are seen to pervert the natural order of creation. However, it is worth noting that this is a reality that we cannot escape. We live in an era where science is the driver of human life. We depend on science to survive more than before. Whereas it is essential to stay grounded to the principles of nature, we cannot completely detach ourselves from science. Watney uses his wit to ‘make water’ (Weir, 22) by separating Hydrogen from Hydrazine and then burning it in the air. This is practical and although it seemingly goes against the natural occurrence of water, it is critical, at least for Watney’s survival. Therefore, attributing his actions to profanity is distorting. The boom has valuable
The male protagonist, Aylmer, is a man of science. His role in the realm of scientific spirituality is aspiring towards what is naturally impossible: the removal of the birthmark. Even though the birthmark may vanish superficially, the obstacle in its eradication is the symbol Aylmer foreshadows as “sin, sorrow, decay and death,”(Hawthorne) nestled within the soul Nature supplies. These attributes Aylmer classifies toward the birthmark are reflected upon himself. He commits the sins of Greed and Wrath through his excessive lust to control nature and his irrepressible hatred against the birthmark.
I think man's gradual, creeping contamination of the planet, his sending up of dust into the air, his strontium additive to our bones, his discharge of industrial poisons into rivers that once flowed clear, his mixing of chemicals with fog on the east wind, add up to a fantasy of such grotesque proportions as to make everything said on the subject seem pale and anemic by contrast. (White p.494)
Kurt Vonneghan through his writing is able to show a dystopia within a utopia by making clever hints and using descriptive language. In the world he has created in “2BR0BR”. From first glance you see a world within a system of a controlled society. Which is not presented until the audience is shown the full story. The start of the story goes into the life of Mr. Wheeling who’s wife is about to have triplets. An achievement to some; only in this world the human population is controlled. Which leaves only one option in order to keep the children. Three people need to take their place. This creates a conflict for our main character Mr.Wehling who ultimately met his fate when he decided to take matters into his own hands. With the society's rules
Alex Garland’s Annihilation is not Jeff VanderMeer’s. The characters have names and backgrounds, the unimaginable has form, and the Area has a slightly different goal. Aware of Garland’s reputation, VanderMeer knew that what would be onscreen would not quite be his, but he wished it well all the same.