Imperfection In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Birthmark

What is a photograph? Now, one might say a photograph is an image taken of oneself, another person(s), and/or a place using a camera. Others might say that a photograph is an image of a moment or memory captured in time that will be forever remembered. Both are correct of course, but I believe a photograph has the potential of meeting both of those ideas. In addition, pictures exist to portray any image of ourselves that we want noticed; by the world. Pictures and selfies can help create any façade one wishes to maintain in order to hide who they really are. These pictures, define who we are as human beings; They enhance our social standing and advocate our individuality. Each picture taken has an underlying message that is trying to be heard.

In “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne the symbol and meaning of the birthmark changes throughout the story. With the use of allegorical characters their perception of the birthmark allows for a unique storyline for readers. As the story begins Aylmer marries the magnificent Georgiana. In Aylmer’s eyes she is spiritually flawless and nearly physically perfect as well, but one small birthmark on the left side of her cheek hinders this perfection. It doesn’t take much time before Aylmer becomes obsessed with this small flaw and is determined to remove it. At first this birthmark represented nothing more than a symbol of Georgiana’s charm. “Georgiana's lovers were wont to say that some fairy at her birth hour had laid her tiny hand upon the

Nathaniel Hawthorne (born July 4, 1804, Salem, Mass. — died May 19, 1864, Plymouth, NH) is an American novelist and short-story writer who was an expert of the allegorical and symbolic story. One of the best fiction essayists in American writing, he is best known for "The Scarlet Letter" (1850) and "The House of the Seven Gables" (1851). "The Birth-Mark" is a mental thriller short story composed by Nathaniel Hawthorne. (Reference book Britannica. 2016) It was distributed first in 1843 in the March version of The Pioneer literary journal. It was distributed again in 1846 in an accumulation of short stories titled Mosses from an Old Manse. "The Birth-Mark" is Hawthorne 's initially distributed work of fiction. Some consider it to be an impression of Hawthorne 's own life, as it was distributed amid his marriage to Sophia Peabody and mirrors the fears and goals of a love bird couple. The story highlights mental subjects of the quest for

The story is about Georgianna and how she learns through Aylmer to hate her birthmark and therefore herself. In the beginning of the book Georgianna and her husband are talking about the birthmark and how she considers it to be something of a charm and then Aylmer tells her that maybe on another face it would be okay, but on a face as perfect as hers it’s hideous. This makes Georgianna very upset and hurts her deeply, it makes her think less of herself just because of a silly birthmark. Which before now and before her horrible husband brought an attention to it had been nothing more than what it is: a birthmark. She even begins to bring the birthmark up without even being prompted by her husband. When they are sitting together one evening

Not a single person on this earth is perfect, instead everyone possesses physical and inner-self imperfections. Georgianna in The Birthmark is a gorgeous individual with one small birth mark that her husband Alymayer dislikes. Alymayer is the antagonist of this story due to his response to her birth mark. His responses included cultivating the problem in the first place about the mark, suggesting removal, and then lastly causing her death to do what it took to create perfection. The story explains how Georgianna felt about her husband’s response to her birth mark and how Alamayer’s insults persuaded her therefore leaving Georgianna as the protagonist.

1. Works Cited Entry for Short Story: Hawthorne, Nathaniel. " The Birth-Mark." Tales and Sketches. New York, NY: Literary Classics of the United States, 1982.

The European standard of beauty has been pushed upon us for thousands of years. The European standard of beauty is the notion that the more closely associated a person is with European features, the more attractive he/she is considered. These standards deem attributes that are most closely associated with white women such as fair skin, straight hair, a thin nose, and light colored eyes. The beautifully unique features each race possesses are often viewed as unattractive because it does not fit into this standard. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s story, The Birthmark, we are introduced to Aylmer, who is obsessed with his wife’s birthmark. Aylmer’s attempt to cure his wife’s deformity and popular culture’s fascination with plastic surgery share the same tactics of psychological manipulation to fit the ideal standard of beauty. They both make women feel insecure about their physical appearance to the extent of putting their lives in danger to resolve a physical imperfection that was never an issue to begin with.

Georgiana's behavior in the 19th century from Nathaniel Hawthorne “The Birthmark”. By the 19th century standards she is expected to live by a certain way and do certain things to satisfied her husband. Georgiana lived up to her expectations as a women and as a wife.

No one is born perfect, but yet everyone has the desire to be. In story "The Birth-Mark" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the main character's wife, Georgiana, sets out to be perfect. The narrator introduces Georgiana's husband, Aylmer, as a brilliant man of science. After Aylmer and Georgiana got married, Aylmer quit his experiments for awhile until he found his next project which was Georgiana's birth-mark. One day, Aylmer questions Georgiana about the birth-mark on her face and since then he was obsessed with removing it. At first Georgiana did not want to remove, what she once called a charm until Aylmer continuously put her down about it. Aylmer told Georgiana that he had a potion that would successfully remove her birth-mark. Georgiana believed

Nature is a beautiful thing, but sometimes too much interference with nature can be punishing. Having an understanding of nature is vital to understanding higher truths. Don't take over nature, let nature take over you.