The Birthmark Analysis

In “The Birthmark,” written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hawthorne expresses many themes to readers that appear within the short story. The main theme that occurs throughout the story derives from a request by one of the main characters. The fact that Aylmer says, “Georgiana, has it never occurred to you that the mark upon your cheek might be removed,” (Hawthorne 333) forcefully expresses that he wants his wife to remove the birthmark. As the process of removing a birthmark is challenging, Aylmer, being the scientist he is, believes that he is capable of doing the job. Over the course of the story, Aylmer and Georgiana go back and forth about whether it is safe or not to remove the birthmark. Later on, Georgiana finally allows her husband to start

Georgiana later finds her husband working on the experiment. He makes her leave the room because he wants his privacy as he puts his focus on achieving his goal. When Aylmer is done, he brings Georgiana the mixture and claims that it will work. Explaining how confident he is in his potion, Aylmer says, “Know, then, that this crimson hand, superficial as it seems, has clutches its grasp into your being with a strength of which I had no previous perception. 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 fails us we are ruined” (Hawthorne 341). This quote provides key information that proves how important this procedure is to the both of them. Before she drinks the mixture, he explains to her how it will remove the birthmark. When Georgiana becomes conscious again after consumption, she looks at herself in the mirror, and tells Aylmer that he should feel good about himself, “Do not repent that with so high and pure a feeling, you have rejected the best the earth could offer” (Hawthorne 343). In this quote, Georgiana describes that even though Aylmer was not happy with her real appearance, his decision to remove the birthmark should not be

Hawthorne states, “As the last crimson tint of the birthmark – that sole token of human imperfection – faded from her cheek, the parting breath of the now perfect woman passed into the atmosphere, and her soul, lingering a moment near her husband, took its heavenward flight” (Hawthorne 343). Once Georgiana’s cheek was free of the birthmark, to Aylmer, she became perfect at that point, and then she vanished. The passion for flawlessness not only causes Georgiana to pass away, but also hurts Aylmer since his desire to make her perfect turns into him losing her. He failed many times before, and the changes he made to attempt to do better, still resulted in him failing. Aylmer was stuck on a small birthmark on her cheek instead of the good qualities she possessed. Aylmer clarifies to readers that Georgiana was already pretty, but he wanted her to look even better, and for that to happen, the birthmark had to