The Birthmark And My Last Duchess Analysis

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“The Birthmark” and “My Last Duchess” are two very different works, from two completely different genres. “The Birthmark” is a short story written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and “My Last Duchess” is a poem written by Robert Browning. Although, these are two different genres, they have very similar themes and parallels. These works explore the problems with power and control in marriages at two different time periods and places and shows what it can drive a man to do. “The Birthmark” has a lot of symbolism, imagery and allegory. This story is about a pretty normal newlywed couple, Aylmer and Georgiana. “Such a union accordingly took place, and was attended with truly remarkable consequences and a deeply impressive moral. (2)” This quote is very interesting because the word “union” means many things. From one perspective it can mean the marriage between Aylmer and Georgiana, and on the other hand it could refer to the union of Aylmer’s love for Georgiana and science. Aylmer is thoroughly devoted to his career in science, and he was recently married to Georgiana so he is just getting to know what being married is like. The birthmark is the conflict in their marriage and in the story, Aylmer isn’t into Georgiana’s birthmark and he requests for her to allow him to remove it. He soon realizes that taking off the birthmark isn’t as simple as it seems because it is interwoven into Georgiana’s face. Georgiana then allows Aylmer to remove the birthmark, even though she knows he isn’t a successful scientist. The liquid that Aylmer has Georgiana drink slowly kills her, and Aylmer is shown to be a complete fool. The actual birthmark itself is the main symbol used throughout the story. “My Last Duchess” is a poem about a Duke who showing someone ...

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...s with his request to remove it. Hawthorne and Browning chose two different developments and extremes of their works. Hawthorne chose to be subtler with his approach to the control in Aylmer and Georgiana’s marriage. On the other hand, Browning chose a more harsh approach to the control between the Duke and his last Duchess. Regardless of the approach, both authors came up with a similar theme which was power and control.
In conclusion, even though both of these works resulted in death, they still represent two completely different genres with a common theme. Two different approaches came up with the same theme which was supported throughout the poem and the short story. Without this aspect of the story, there wouldn’t be a story. Because without these themes there is no conflict in the poem or short story, and without conflict, that leaves a very boring plot.

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