Perfection In Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'The Birth-Mark'

In “The Birthmark”, a short story by Nathanial Hawthorne, the use of the archetypal conflict Nature vs. Science, the character of Damsel in Distress, and the symbol of the Incurable Wound show how easily beauty is overlooked in the endeavor for perfection.

Nathaniel Hawthorne, created “ The Birthmark” to give the reader’s an insight analysis of character behavior. The author introduces Aylmer as a brilliant scientist whose actions are guided by the overpowered sense of decency. As the reader’s analyzes the character Aylmer in “ The Birthmark” one may witness nature not as beauty, but as imperfection, therefore feels within his power to correct.

It is hard to say that one is human and perfect at the same time. Human beings are not capable of achieving perfection; if that would be so, humans would stop being humans. By nature the human race is full of flaws, some appearing as early as in the womb. From defects in the body, to defects in the mind, to the mistakes that one makes in quotidian life, it is impossible to deny that human imperfection exists. To try to manipulate humans into perfection is not only impossible, but it takes away the very essence of being a human being. The short story “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorn, illustrates this teaching through the character of Aylmer, an ambitious and devoted scientist who is appalled by his wife Georgiana’s birthmark, believing

In his 1843 didactic short story "The Birthmark," Nathaniel Hawthorne writes about the shortcomings and negligence of those who seek perfection throughout their lives. Aylmer, mad scientist and main character, is greatly encouraged by a romantic reverie to seek the removal of an aggravating birthmark from his wife Georgiana's face. Aylmer becomes trapped in a trance by his aspirations to the point where "he had not been aware of the tyrannizing influence acquired by one idea over his mind, and of the lengths which he might find in his heart to go for the sake of giving himself peace" (Hawthorne 74). Similarity, in the short story "Editha," William Howells portrays how romantic ideals instill false confidence and support an unrealistic perception of the outside world. The powerful persuasion by an unrealistic psyche is illustrated through the phrase "pocket providence", showing to be nothing more than a contagion, creating uncertainty and untenable expectations in all that encounter it.

Have you ever strived to be an embodiment of perfectionism? Although there are few simple symbols in the story the The Birthmark that have conveyed such a deep intensive,meaning to them. The symbols used in the story The Birthmark is the Georgiana´s physical birthmark,and the science lab where Aylmer Georgiana husband does all his experiments. ¨ "Perfect" is not the only work ¨ (Keetley). Through the use of the physical mark and the lab, Nathaniel Hawthorne warns readers about the dangers of playing God?

Aylmer's struggle for scientific perfection transcends human possibility in Nathaniel Hawthome's "The Birthmark." He attempts to perfect that which nature rendered imperfect. When the quest for human achievement opposes divine design it has no chance of succeeding. This key element in Aylmer's twisted love leads to the demise of what he seeks so desperately to perfect, his beautiful wife. Georgianna's "fatal flaw of humanity" (Hawthorne 167), the birthmark, blocks her from perfection in his eyes, and thus blemishes Aylmer's prideful ideals. Her alleged inferiority to science leads to her death and Aylmer's complete failure as both a scientist and a spouse.

Written by Nathaniel Hawthorne during the American Renaissance, the short story “The Birth-Mark” details the events of a brilliant scientist and natural philosopher named Aylmer who obsesses about his wife Georgiana’s birthmark in the shape of a tiny hand on her left cheek. The symbol of the birthmark causes the plot to advance in the story, as Aylmer is compelled by this red mark to act upon his emotions. Aylmer views his wife’s birthmark as an imperfection in her virtually flawless beauty and as a result, attempts to it via a potion that he strongly believes cannot fail. His interpretation of the birthmark creates conflict in the story, which is shaped by the symbolic meaning that he attributes it to. Aylmer’s failure to accept his wife’s appearance for who she is leads to misunderstandings, pain, and ultimately, death.

In the parable “The Birth-Mark,” Nathaniel Hawthorne reveals his perspective of imperfection and depicts it as a virtue through the Crimson Hand in Georgiana’s cheek; he also shows his belief of the unobtainable ideal through the downfall of Aylmer and Georgiana, caused by Aylmer’s persistence in obtaining perfection. Hawthorne’s point of view of imperfections as part of beauty takes part in the second half of his story through the birth-mark on Georgiana’s cheek. Once Aylmer and Georgiana have gotten to the laboratory, Georgiana faints. Aylmer, hysterical and alarmed, demands for Aminidab’s help to which Aminidab responds, “‘Yes, master,’… looking intently at the lifeless form of Georgiana, and then he muttered to himself; -- ‘If she were my wife, I’d never part with that birth-mark’” (649).

In “The Birth-Mark” the story explains how a man, named Aylmer, is completely obsessed about an unusual birthmark on his wife Georgiana’s face. Aylmer states how beautiful and almost perfect his wife seems to be, for example, “you came so nearly perfect from the hand of Nature, that this slightest possible defect, which we hesitate whether to term a defect or a beauty, shocks me, as being the visible mark of earthly imperfection” (Hawthorne 291). The imperfection, as stated, is the small

How can humans perfect ourselves? What are the repercussions of man’s desire to conquer nature’s will? In his short story, “The Birthmark”, author Nathaniel Hawthorne attempts to shed light on potential answers to these questions. He especially emphasizes the latter question, prompting his audience to wonder, “Can - and should - man attempt to “perfect” nature’s will?” when the main character, a scientist named Alymer, becomes determined to remove a birthmark from his wife’s face. Hawthorne uses Alymer’s obsession to represent dualism. Furthermore, given the fatal results of Alymer’s experiments, Hawthorne seems to suggest the failures of dualism and the untouchable monism of existence.

In a balanced consideration of Georgiana and the mark, the narrator also includes the opinion of the “masculine observers”; they, “if the birthmark did not heighten their admiration, contented themselves with wishing it away, that the world might possess one living specimen of ideal loveliness without the semblance of a flaw.” And similarly does Aylmer think. He, not surprisingly perhaps for a perfectionist-genius-scientist, “found this one defect grow more and more intolerable with every moment of their united lives.”  To him it seems “the fatal flaw of humanity,” the

Hawthorne illustrates an awe-inspiring example of how human imperfection is natural and the way we are created is how we shall remain, perfectly imperfect. It is difficult not to consider the world today and how much plastic surgeons profit and customers pay, just to reflect an ideal image. This story is published in the eighteenth century, which depicts a mad scientist (Aylmer) who claims to have the ability to create perfection in the imperfect, Godly creation of his wife (Georgiana). The marriage union is without happiness because of a small birthmark on Georgiana’s cheek, which Aylmer aspires to eliminate with his impeccable scientific expertise. In his short story “The Birth-Mark,” Nathaniel Hawthorne illustrates how an obsession

“The Birthmark” is a story that centers around a scientist named Aylmer, and his beautiful wife Georgiana. Georgiana who is as Aylmer says “ you came so nearly perfect from the hand of Nature that this slightest possible defect, which we hesitate whether to term a defect or a beauty, shocks me, as being the visible mark of earthy perfection” (212) we learn has just one flaw, a birthmark on her check. Hawthorne’s story emphases on the obsession characteristic that mankind possesses. This story exposes our raw human need and desire to create perfection at any cost, even death.

Perfection is hopeless. Greed is endless. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Birth-Mark”, the two protagonists of the story face the dilemma brought onto them by Aylmer’s, the husband of the relationship, selfish greed and desire for a perfection which he can’t obtain. The author manipulates a simple dream to foreshadow the eventual end and to enforce the character traits of a protagonist in order to enhance the theme surrounding the greed for perfection in one’s life within the story.

Is it truly being our best-selves? Is it feeling emotionally content? Or is it neurotically trying our hardest to mold ourselves into a person that appeases others? Whether or not we intend to, we often cater to the last. We live in a society where beauty and glamour are pervasive, creating an almost subliminal standard of perfection in the backs of our minds. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story “The Birthmark”, he tackles this notion of perfection, while also noting the lust that humanity has for it. He delves into the imperfections of all things natural and writes about a scientist hoping to mend his wife’s physical shortcomings in order to create the flawless woman. Hawthorne covers the many themes that go into the pursuit of perfection, fabricating an allegorical representation of today. Exemplifying how striving for an unattainable standard of perfection is detrimental to one’s health, “The Birthmark” serves as a literary precursor, highlighting the negative effects of contemporary ideals of beauty