In today’s society, it seems that we cannot turn the television on or look in a
magazine without being bombarded by images of seemingly flawless, incredible looking
women. Women today are held to such unattainable standards of beauty, which leads
to self-esteem and confidence issues. These standards have caused women to
overlook the beauty that God has created in them and find their solace in science. We
have make-up to cover our faces with, Botox and collagen injections to make us look
younger and plumper in just the right places, and the ultimate “gift”: plastic surgery.
Women seem not to care what the consequences are, just as long as their goal of
perfection is achieved. But can a person ever really be physically perfect? The great
19th century writer, Nathaniel Hawthorne, was writing about feminine beauty and the
lengths man will go to in order to achieve that physical perfection long before the era of
“America’s Next Top Model” and “Nip/Tuck”. Hawthorne’s classic tale “The Birth-mark”
seems to caution against “perfecting” nature’s beauty through the use of science.
“The Birthmark” introduces us to a fervent scientist, Aylmer, who marries a
beautiful young woman, Georgiana. Try as he might, Aylmer cannot keep his passions
for both his wife and his science apart for long: “His love for his wife might prove the
stronger of the two; but it could only be by intertwining itself with his love of science, and
uniting the strength of the latter to its own” (1321). In an effort to combine his two loves
in life, Aylmer finds a “flaw” upon his beautiful wife that he is sure can be removed
through the use of science. The “flaw”, which quickly becomes repulsive to Aylmer, can
be described as “...
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“The Birth-mark” is a tale that speaks volumes about society. How far are we
willing to go in order to fulfill someone else’s definition of perfection? Georgiana gave
her life only to be “perfect” for only a few moments. At the end of the day, we need to
be able to look in the mirror and appreciate what was given to us at conception. Flaws
are not flaws, but mere reminders that we are all mortal. Everyday a woman goes
under the knife in order to perfect something she considers a flaw, risking death. While
cosmetic procedures are performed routinely, there is always a risk. Are we willing to
accept the consequences that come along with challenging nature’s beauty? What is
perfect anyways?
Works Cited
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. “The Birth-Mark.” The Norton Anthology American Literature. Ed.
Nina Baym. New York: New York, 2007. 1320-1333
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