Analysis Of Nathaniel Hawthorne 's ' The Birth Mark '

Many of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s works have very religious themes and overtones. His short story “The Birthmark” is no different. In this short story, many religious analogies are present. Hawthorne uses characterization, symbolism, and theme to make various statements about Christianity and sin. His characters can be seen as the two main figures in Christianity, God and Jesus. There are also many symbols in the story that have religious ties and connections. There are several themes present in the story that may give the reader insight into Hawthorne’s religious views. All of these elements lend themselves to analysis with a spiritual focus.

Nathaniel Hawthorne shows the obsession of perfection in the story, “The Birthmark.” He uses the scientist, Aylmer, and his wife, Georgiana, to show that striving for perfection is unrealistic. In the story, the scientist creates the perfect wife, but dooms her to death because no one on earth can be perfect. The plot of “The Birthmark,” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, helps to emphasize the desire for perfection.

“We are flawed creatures, all of us. Some of us think that means we should fix our flaws. But get rid of my flaws and there would be no one left.” Sarah Vowel’s quote is precisely what Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Birth-Mark” Symbolism means. Hawthorne uses Archetype symbolism in his short story when he talks about Georgiana’s birthmark. Symbolism is very important in the story because that is what it is essentially about.

"The Birthmark" by Nathaniel Hawthorne demonstrates a lot of imagery. The theme of "The Birthmark" depends on Aylmer's obsession and love for science; he considers, as a researcher, he can control nature. Georgiana trusted the removal of the birthmark would help other people and her love with Aylmer. The birthmark isn't just an image; however, it demonstrates the love and commitment they have for each other. The birthmark symbolizes uniqueness, human imperfection, something heavenly and Georgiana's love for Aylmer.

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Birthmark” was written in 1843, a time in which the world was beginning to become more understanding of science and its ability to possibly alter the course of certain aspects in life, such as nature. “The Birthmark” is a work of literature that displays this idea as well as any other work written in this time period. It clearly presents that Aylmer, one of the main characters in “The Birthmark,” is one of the members of society that believes science can change the course that nature has taken. This mentality is the main source of conflict in “The Birthmark” because Aylmer is determined to remove a birthmark from the cheek of his wife, Georgiana. Among Aylmer’s obsession with the removal of Georgiana’s birthmark

Many people create the notion that perfection results in ultimate satisfaction. However, sometimes, the desire of perfection may burden them and doom them to unhappiness. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story “The Birth-Mark” is a third-person narrative about Aylmer and his obsession to make his wife Georgiana perfect by removing her birthmark. Aylmer is a scientist who puts his love of science ahead of his love for his wife. His genuine, sincere, yet delusional effort to alter his wife's beauty with science illustrates the story’s theme that perfection is demoralizing which reveals within Hawthorne’s use of symbolism, characterization and the narrative point of view.

In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story, “The Birthmark,” he touches on the dangers of traditional male dominance within Aylmer and Georgiana’s marriage and how this confronts Aylmer’s overall masculinity, as well as identifies the reflection of a male ideal of femininity. Not only does this masculine facade shape Georgiana’s sexuality, but also it allows Aylmer to ultimately be able to live his life “governed by sameness” which he feels he can control through Georgiana’s feminine Nature itself. Hawthorne uses The Birthmark, not just as a story about the flawed and imperfect nature of women, but mainly of a story about the sickness of Aylmer, and how "the great American dream of eliminating women” is essentially a demonstration "that the only

“The Birth-Mark” was written and published in 1843 by Nathanial Hawthorne. This short story, as many of the works of Hawthorne, showcases his apparent disdain for the transcendental movement. As this story is read a person can definitely see the mockery of scientific advancements as the protagonist of the story becomes obsessed with his wife’s appearance and his perception of a flaw and his use of scientific experiments to rid her of the stain (Idol). Hawthorne also illustrates his Puritan history in that the birthmark can be seen as human flaw indicative of the sin of his wife. Many different views have been discussed about “The Birth-Mark,” and it is a fact that many interpretations can be taken

There exists no true perfection in the natural world; we are all blemished in some way, be it physical, or in any other way. The mind of a scientist is focused on understanding and perfecting a subject that is not completely understood. A scientist must accept the fact that they will never truly complete their work. The pursuit of knowledge is never ending, much like the pursuit of perfection. In “The Birth-Mark”, Aylmer the deluded scientist changes his focus from his unachievable scientific work, to the physical appearance of his new bride.

“The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a story about a man’s obsession with trying to create perfection. Aylmer is married to a beautiful woman named Georgiana who just happens to have a birthmark on her face that is in the shape of a tiny hand. Aylmer is a scientist that is striving to create perfection through science. He believes that he is able to alter what Nature has already created. The birthmark that he once had not noticed suddenly is seen as an imperfection and he slowly becomes obsessed with perfecting his wife. He in fact says “what will be my triumph when I shall have corrected what Nature left imperfect in her fairest work!” (Hawthorne) Aylmer puts his faith more so into science then he does religion by believing he can

Humans possess the desire to be perfect, which simply does not exist on earth and can only be achieved in dreams or in death and is explained in “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Despite wanting to be perfect, humans also desire the need to love and to be loved in return, which often leads to unhappy, bad, forceful relationships as expressed in “Living In Sin” by Adrienne Rich. Within our human lives we often desire to be labeled by who and what we are so we can know our place in this world; which is pointless because in the end death does not care who you were and “Color—Caste—Denomination—“ by Emily Dickinson is an example of this. However, Super Sad True Love Story portrays humans who possess multiple harmful, pointless desires. Whether it is to live forever and look younger, to love someone because it is better than being alone, or ranking to know their purpose in the world, Super Sad True Love Story shows how these things end in a result not perfectly lovable at all.

“The Birth-Mark” a short story written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, a tragic love story about a man of science named Aylmer and his beautiful wife Georgiana. Aylmer a man who loves perfection wants to remove his wife birthmark from her face. Georgiana was born with a with a birth mark of the color red and shaped like a little hand on her face. Aylmer loves his wife, but he can not stand the mark on her face. Aylmer becomes obsessed with removing the mark from her face and eventually ends up killing his wife in the process. Hawthorne uses the main conflict in the story to drive his type and style of narration, figurative use of language, and imagery and symbols to write his tale.

Author Nathaniel Hawthorne who is considered one of the Great American authors, wrote during the romantic period. Particularly, in his work titled “The Birthmark” written in 1843 we can see evidence of the characteristics, themes and style identified with the romantic movement which was extant in American letters between 1800 and 1850. As a representative of such a movement, Nathaniel Hawthorne then remains one of the most identifiable and iconic writers of his time.

     This essay will analyze Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Birthmark” in order to demonstrate that it is a “psychological” short story both in its themes and in its emphasis on the moral-psychological aspect of the main characters.

In the story The Birth-Mark, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, a scientist named Aylmer, marries a beautiful woman named Georgiana, but after he marries her he notices his wife’s birthmark. He cannot bear the birthmark. The birthmark is the shape of a little hand. He becomes obsessed with the birthmark that it becomes “…. more and more intolerable with every moment of their united lives” (Hawthorne 221). Georgiana’s birthmark has become a problem to him, that he needs to solve, so he decides that he can remove it. He is successful in the attempt of removing it, but in doing so, his success ends in a tragedy. In the story, Hawthorne illustrates how Aylmer strives for perfection, but in doing so he challenges nature, pride, and his relationship with Georgiana.