Opening/thesis: “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne and “Eye of the Beholder” by Rod Serling are short stories that introduce two young, beautiful women who, despite their beauty, are castigated by others for their uniqueness. Hawthorne crafts allegory using symbolism and third person omniscient storytelling, featuring characters who desire nothing less but perfection among the common man. Serling, however, writes of a parallel world where the one thing unaccepted by society is individuality. Despite differences in plot and setting, both authors poke fun at modern perceptions of beauty and elitism, suggesting our obsession with determining worth based on physical appearance will result in the conflict and segregation of peoples. First …show more content…
To others, like Aminadab, the mark is the only thing that makes this otherwise perfect being unique and identifiable. The author writes, “Its shape bore not a little similarity to the human hand.” Referring to the mark as the “red hand” as indicated in the text implies that this is a mark given to her by a creator; one then might make a connection to the hand of God. “The fatal hand had grappled with the mystery of life, and was the bond by which an angelic spirit kept itself in union with a mortal frame.” From this quotation, the narrator reveals the hand is a physical representation of mankind. Without the mark, her mortal life would need to be lost; she was no longer …show more content…
A sense of security can be found by accepting the role you’re given by others, and yet, the act of being cut off from the rest of the world reinforces the pressures placed on looks to determine class and significance. Irony: The reversed standards of beauty is a storytelling technique used to enhance and at the same time disguise the moral message. Third Body: Comparing the two pieces Hawthorne and Serling use objects to symbolize a deeper look into an important fabric of the particular story’s reality. An example of this is the elixir, the bandages, the shadows on the faces of the hospital workers, etc. Serling is commenting on how some think a successful society is made eliminating divergence, and Hawthorne is commenting on how Man has become obsessed with symmetry, and that perfection is the determining factor of someone’s worth. Both are allegories for how society often has unattainable and corrupt outlooks on beauty. Each Allegory express hope for man- The doctor begins doubting the ways of society: “Why do we have to divide people based on their looks?” and the house servant for Aylmer: “If she were my wife, I would love that
Irony is when what is said is different than, what appears to be real. A media that utilizes irony is “The Hunger Games when Prim Rose got picked to participate in the game even though Katniss' name was in the draw more. Irony is not only shown in movies bit, in Television shows and stories as well. “The Possibility of Evil,” “The Skating Party” and “The Lottery” are three short-stories that show irony. “The Possibility of Evil” is about a 71-year-old woman, living in a small town, growing beautiful roses and she spends her days trying to the town of evil. “The Skating Party” is about someone's first love and how they lost them. ”The Lottery” is about a tradition in a small village that everyone, but one person wants to give up. The short-stories
Everybody adores this mark except Aylmer, who thinks the birthmark is a curse. Shortly after he marries Georgiana. He begins to see the trace of nature’s imperfection on his almost perfect wife. This leads him to the quest of perfecting his wife’s “flaw.” He said to his wife,
Wolf, Naomi. The Beauty Myth. How Images of Beauty are Used Against Women. New York: William Morrow, 1991.
The birthmark is a compelling story of one man’s obsession with his scientific ability to produce perfection. Aylmer, a scientist, is married to a Georgiana who is a very beautiful woman. Not long after getting married Georgiana’s birthmark, which is in the shape of a tiny handprint on her check, really begins to bother Aylmer. He sees it as a flaw in an other wise perfect woman. Georgiana knows that her birthmark disgusts him and, having grown up not bother at all by it, begins to hate it herself. He asks if she has ever considered having it removed. This is not something she has considered since other people in her life, especially men, have always seen it as a “charm”. Aylmer being an amazing scientist almost sees himself as god and feels that he has the power to remove this imperfection. Georgiana, bothered by her husband’s reaction to her birthmark, agrees to let him try to rid her of it. She is taken to his laboratory and he immediately begins to experiment. After she finds Aylmer’s book of experiments, which all end in failure, she for the first time, has some doubt about how this will work and confronts him. He reassures her and begins to try a multitude of methods, with the help of his assistant Aminadab, which do not work. At one point, there are several experiments going on and he even refers to himself as a “sorcerer” (Hawthorne 232). Finally, he produces a potion, which she drinks, and the birthmark begins to disappear! Slowly though, even as the experiment is working, Georgiana is fading away. He finds that ultimately, the birthmark was connected to her very soul and in his trying to act god like he actually kills her. Really this short story just proves that science has its limits and no man should try to act like G...
In conclusion the theme of The Birthmark is expressed within the story. “The crimson hand expressed the ineludible gripe in which mortality clutches the highest and purest of earthly mould, degrading them into kindred with the lowest, and even with the very brutes, like whom their visible frames return to dust. In this manner, selecting it as the symbol of his wife's liability to sin, sorrow, decay, and death.” (Hawthorne 359). This story tells a lot about human nature, the most important one is that human beings are naturally imperfect creatures, trying
& nbsp; The Mark of Ugliness In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Birthmark, there is indeed a representation of Although the other underlying personality is not represented within himself, it is rather portrayed through his assistant Aminadab. Since Aylmer is lacking so much within himself, he is unable to appreciate his wife even though she was dying. Basically, if Aylmer had the sensibility of Aminadab, he could have realized how beautiful she was even with her birthmark. During
Written in 1843, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story “The Birthmark,” may be interpreted as a metaphorical representation of disability. The plot revolves around Aylmer, an alchemist, and his quest to rid Georgiana, his wife, of a facial birthmark. Aylmer’s crusade for the ideal female form ultimately results in Georgiana’s unfortunate demise. In the narrative, a tiny handprint-shaped birthmark graces Georgiana’s otherwise beautiful left cheek. Because it limits her activities and results in derogative treatment, the birthmark symbolizes disability and thus Georgiana represents the disabled. Meanwhile, Aylmer illustrates pro-normative, ableist society. That attached scene in particular manages to represent Georgiana’s fatal shift in perspective,
Sontag, Susan. “Beauty.” The Black Book: A Custom Publication. 3rd ed. Ed. Sam Pierstorff. Modesto: Quercus Review Press, 2012. 34-36.
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.
Every relationship is different. Weather one may be in a relationship with a boy, or just a friend, it is different. Even though they are different, the characters in “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne and “IND AFF” by Fay Weldon are in similar relationships. That is, the male is dominant over the female, and the woman thinks the man is her knight in shining armor. In the beginning of “IND AFF” the unnamed woman thinks her professor, Peter, who she is having an affair with, is her ticket to creating a good thesis and higher standings. Similarly, in “The Birthmark,” Georgiana thinks her husband is her ticket to flawless beauty because he tells her he will remove her birthmark. Obviously, this is not how relationships operate in today’s society. These two relationships compare and contrast with each other as well as with relationships in today’s day-and-age.
In “The Birthmark” the relationships and behaviors of the character reveal much more than the story itself does. The characters of Aylmer, Georgian, Amenidab and Nature itself, through their words, actions, and behaviors give insight into a much more meaningful story. A deeper analysis of the characters reveals that they are archetypes, and as archetypes they provide a deeper hidden meaning to the story. By looking at Aylmer, Georgiana, Amenidab and Natures relationships and actions throughout the story we can see how they are used to give deeper significance.
Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette’s short story “The Hand” and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story “The Birthmark” reflects the idea that society has labeled certain characteristics to specific genders. For example, males are commonly associated with strength and dominance while females are associated with being submissive and weak. Both Colette and Hawthorne express these roles in this manner. The males in these stories are portrayed as the masculine, dominant figure while the females are delicate and submissive.
In the essay “What Meets the Eye”, Daniel Akst explains scientific facts about the beauty of men and women matters to people. He argues that attractive individuals receive attention, great social status, marries, and gets paid more on a job. One can disagree with Akst’s argument because anyone with the skills and knowledge, despite the appearance, can gain a decent relationship and can get paid well. Akst looks at beauty as if it can lead individuals to an amazing and successful life, but he is wrong. Nancy Mairs’ and Alice Walker’s views on beauty are explained internally and through self-confidence. Both women’s and Akst’s arguments on beauty share some similarities and differences in many ways, and an
1. Our society tends to be obsessed with the idea of physical perfection. How does our society manifest that obsession? How is the 'Birthmark'; an early version of our modern obsession with physical perfection?
...e ability to achieve anything in life. Hopefully, readers would learn from this novel that beauty is not the most important aspect in life. Society today emphasizes the beauty of one's outer facade. The external appearance of a person is the first thing that is noticed. People should look for a person's inner beauty and love the person for the beauty inside. Beauty, a powerful aspect of life, can draw attention but at the same time it can hide things that one does not want disclosed. Beauty can be used in a variety of ways to affect one's status in culture, politics, and society. Beauty most certainly should not be used to excuse punishment for bad deeds. Beauty is associated with goodness, but that it is not always the case. This story describes how the external attractiveness of a person can influence people's behavior and can corrupt their inner beauty.