Since the beginning of time, people have lived by the expression, or at least heard From their mother’s, that “no one should judge another based on physical attributes.” “The Birthmark,” by Nathaniel Hawthorne gives its reader an important example of this worldly known moral. In “The Birthmark,” Hawthorne uses characterization, a foil character, hyperbole, a dramatic setting, imagery and a huge tragedy in order to display the judgment morality of his main character, Aylmer. Hawthorne goes into every detail possible about his characters, Georgiana and her husband, Alymer. He does not go too much into detail about Amindab, because most of the story is based on Alymer and Georgiana. For example, “He had devoted himself, however, too reservedly to scientific studies ever to be weaned from the, by any second passion” (Hawthorne 649). Through this statement in the story, Hawthorne describes Aylmer as a mad scientist who seemingly only cares about his studies, not having any time in his life to occupy anything else. Throughout the rest of the story, he continues to describe Aylmer not only through descriptions but also through his actions and thoughts. “No, indeed,” said she, smiling; but perceiving the seriousness of his manner, she blushed deeply. “To tell the truth it has been so often called a charm that I was simple enough to imagine it might be so” (649). Hawthorne definitely characterizes Georgiana as a noble wife; calm and respective towards her husband. Through the way she speaks to her husband and her actions truly show how dedicated she is to her husband. She basically knows the whole time that her life is in complete danger because of the removal of her birthmark, bu... ... middle of paper ... ...al attributes, such as Aylmer did with Georgiana’s birthmark. “The momentary circumstance was too strong for him; he failed to look beyond the shadowy scope of time, and, living once for all in eternity, to find the perfect future in the present” (659-660). This quote explains that Aylmer was too focused on his future with his wife without her birthmark to realize that with her birthmark, she would still be alive. No one should have to result in death in order to please another person, who in the first place, did not care enough to take them as they are. Works Cited 1. Bausch, Richard, and R. V. Cassill. The Norton Anthology of Short Fiction. 7th ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2006. Print. 2. Hawthorne. “The Birthmark.” The Norton Anthology of Short Fiction. R.V. Cassill, Richard Bausch. 7th ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2006. 648-660.
Hawthorne's "The Birth-Mark" deals with the discrepancy between the strength of nature and the strength of science. Hawthorne's protagonist, Alymer, represents the world of science, whereas the strength of nature is represented by the birth-mark on Alymer's wife Georgiana's face. Alymer becomes obsessed with her birth-mark and, using his scientific knowledge, attempts to remove it. In this essay, I will show that Alymer's obsession results from his scientifically influenced way of thinking in categories, and also from his arrogant perfectionism, two character traits which are shown in this excerpt from the text. These character traits interfere with his moral conscientiousness and eventually caquse his downfall at the end of the story.
Rucker, Mary E. "Science and Art in Hawthorne's 'The Birthmark', " Nineteenth Century Literature 41 (1987)- 445-61.
... I am dying!" says Chillingworth wife after she is "cured" of her birthmark, a large brown
The Birth-Mark, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1843, is a story about a scientist and his wife, whose relationship is greatly impacted by science. The scientist’s wife, Georgiana, has a crimson birth-mark on her left cheek that is shaped like a hand. The scientist, Aylmer, loathes the birth-mark on Georgiana’s face, and he desperately desires to conduct a scientific experiment to remove the unique mark. In Hawthorne’s, The Birth-Mark, the theme, “love for a woman v. love of science”, is portrayed in the passion that Aylmer has for science, the love that he shows his wife, and the conflict that he has balancing both passions in his life.
In Nathaniel’s Hawthorns short story “The Birthmark”, shows the lust for perfection and the need to create a perfect being. Hawthorne creates this message through the story of a scientist by the name of Aylmer who put down his test tube to pursue love. He meets the love of his life Georgiana, but she has one flaw. Upon her left cheek rests a blush red birthmark resembling that of a small human hand. Aylmer becomes obsessed with removing it and making her perfect, by using his science. Throughout the Reading of “The Birthmark”, Hawthorne uses symbolism to create deep imagery to illustrate the imperfections of being human because that’s what makes us who we are.
with a mortal frame” (Hawthorne 354). By tracing the tipping scales of perfection vs. dissatisfaction, readers of “The Birthmark” witness the slow demise of Georgiana and Aylmer, and gain important insight into human nature.
The special room that Aylmer’s lovely wife was placed in for the corrective surgery can be interpreted as a humanly constructed heaven, and when in this room, Aylmer is God. The description of the divine room was expressed by the narrator as “being a pavilion among the clouds. ”(Hawthorne,1843,330) LITERARY ANALYSIS OF “THE BIRTHMARK” 5 Many lessons may be interpreted from Hawthorne’s tale of caution based on the reader’s perspective. However, Hawthorne’s genius in crafting symbols through not only just
she married is supposed to love her even with her flaws, she listened to what he had to say. For
Women's roles during the time of Nathaniel Hawthorne's writings were that of the submissive housewife. The male dominated society made all women feel inferior and oppressed. They were told to believe that the male, their husband was the ruler of the house. What he said went and a proper lady would obey his orders and do every thing possible to make his wishes come true. The role of Georgiana in The Birthmark takes on one of the traditional subservient woman of the time.
The story would not exist without Georgiana’s birthmark; the small red handprint is crucial to her character and the conflict in the story. As her husband urges her to have it removed, we can see that he is unhappy with her imperfections and wishes her to be perfect both physically and spiritually. He wishes for her to be as beautiful as possible, “he found this one defect grow more and more intolerable with every moment
...pursuit of a wife. This is also the only time that he is happy to meet someone.
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story, “The Birthmark”, Aylmer, is a scientist that challenges his love for science in combination against his love for a woman. After he dedicates his life to Georgiana, his wife, Aylmer slowly grows more and more disgust for the imperfection of a birthmark on her cheek. The birthmark is a crimson, red-shaped figure that only appears on her face when the natural rosiness of her face vanishes. As the birthmark begins to haunt Aylmer’s mind as the time goes by, he decides to surgically remove Georgiana’s mark from her cheek in his laboratory. As numerous attempts go by, Georgiana is instructed to drink a potion recipe--the birthmark finally disappears from her cheek, and she dies shortly after. First of all, as Alymer recollects his thoughts on his dream about Georgiana’s birthmark, he makes a final decision on
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. "The Birth-Mark." Tales and Sketches. New York, NY: Literary Classics of the United States, 1982. 764-780. Print.
1)Hawthorne, Nathaniel. “The Birthmark.” Sixth Edition The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature. Michael Meyers Ed. Boston/New York: Bedford/St. Martin 1996 p.306-16
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