The Birthmark Is More Than A Blemish

The archetypal conflict of Nature vs. Science is shown in Aylmer’s intention to remove the birthmark, nature’s constant reminder of human mortality, from Georgiana’s cheek. Aylmer believed that the birthmark might heighten Georgiana’s beauty if it wasn’t her only visible imperfection, but on Georgiana’s otherwise flawless complexion the birthmark was nothing more than “the fatal flaw of humanity…the ineludible gripe in which mortality clutches the highest and purest of earthly mould,

In the piece “The Birthmark” it is impossible and foolish to try to reach perfection. Because we all have been stamped with the imperfections of nature when Adam and Eve took a bite from the tree in the garden of Eden…..

The Birthmark by Nathaniel Hawthorne is trying to communicate some important ideas about a variety of themes, he articulates a few weighty themes around this brief argument: the struggle between science and nature. In a story full of successful and almost magical scientific experiments, it is intact nature itself that is more powerful than any creation made by man. As is to be expected, this path to perfection also includes the creation of life and the victory over death. In the birthmark Aylmer does not see, like others who pretended Georgiana's hand before him, a singularity that accentuates her immaculate beauty. He sees in that crimson little hand an indication of decay and death. And also of immorality and sin, in tune with the belief

Can you imagine a world without imperfections? A world where everyone is perfect is unattainable, but if scientifically there were a way to eliminate imperfections and life threatening diseases, presumably, many people would be curious. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story “The Birthmark,” the author explores the idea of perfection with the help of science. Modern examples of this are mentioned in articles posted on NPR.org and time.com, genetically modifying DNA in human embryos has become largely controversial. By using a method called CRISPR, first, it identifies the defective gene, and then it cuts and repairs the gene, not only for that embryo, but for generations to come. With all the scientific knowledge that we are gaining, we

How far are women willing to go in order to reach the idea of perfection, and how does this desire affect their physical and emotional state? In the gothic story “The Birthmark”, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Georgiana is a beautiful woman who marries a mad scientist named Aylmer. Her husband views her as perfection except for the small red handprint looking birthmark on her left cheek. He always stares at the small hand and then proceeds to manipulate the way she views her birthmark. Georgiana eventually gives in and allows her husband to do whatever it takes in order to remove the hand. By suddenly obsessing over meeting perfection, she ends up dead. In society today, many women, especially teenage girls, are constantly looking at this

Nathaniel Hawthorne like many other writers during the nineteenth century focused their writings on the darker aspects of life. “The Birthmark,” is set in New England and has a Puritan perspective. Aylmer, a well-known scientist, marries Georgiana who has a hand shaped birthmark upon her face. After some time during their marriage Aylmer and Georgiana decided to remove the mark through scientific means. Advancements in science and the ability to change nature were at the center of plots throughout their short stories and poems. Hawthorne believed that it was not unusual for science and women to rival for one man’s love (Hawthorne 12). Hawthorne used his critical thinking to write about taboos and dissention not spoken of during his lifetime to the forefront. In “The Birthmark,” Hawthorne focuses on science verses nature. Hawthorne attempted to create the perfect human being through science by using setting, character, and symbolism to undo the imperfections he saw within God’s work in “The Birthmark”. With all of his intellectual and spiritual qualities, Aylmer still does not have wisdom.

Unlike the other men, Aylmer thinks Georgina’s birthmark is not “a charm” (Hawthorne). In fact, Aylmer doesn’t know “whether to term [it] a defect or a beauty” (Hawthorne). Georgina becomes emotional by her husband’s shocking words, she tells him “you cannot love what shocks you!” (Hawthorne). Aylmer’s obsession for perfection was so big that he could not tolerate a simple mark on his lover’s cheek. To be human is to be imperfect and for Aylmer to think his wife’s birthmark is a “visible mark of earthly imperfection,” is almost immoral. His quest for human perfection surpasses the morals of marriage. Aylmer failed to stand by the marriage values and learn to love his wife’s “fatal flaw” (Hawthorne). As humans, we’re taught to have morals and ethics that provide us with the tools necessary to do the right thing. In the contrary, if we cross the line like Aylmer, a tragedy is bound to happen. A tragedy such as killing the love of his life reassured him of those morals humans are taught to live by. Hawthorne, asserts the idea that human nature is imperfect; therefore, it would be immoral to strive for perfection. By Aylmer removing her birthmark it is almost like removing her humanity.

The birthmark symbolizes being mortal, or mortality. The narrator use the birthmark as a leeway to show that everything, and everyone, has flaws. No one is perfect, and even though you might not have a birthmark, or something that sets you off and makes you different from someone else there's still no one in this world that is the same as you. It doesn't just have to be an external flaw though, you can have internal flaws as well. If you're rude, selfish, and uncaring then that's a flaw too, and that's what the narrator was trying to explain to the reader. Even though Georgiana is almost completely perfect she has the hand-shaped mark on her cheek that sets her off from everyone else, and that blemish is what makes her who she is. It makes

Portrayed as spiritual and intellectual in contrast with his crude laboratory assistant Aminadab, Aylmer becomes disturbingly obsessed with a birthmark on his wife’s countenance. The plot of the short story revolves around the man’s attempt in removing the mark, which results in the death of Georgiana. In the very beginning of the story, the audience discovers through the narration that Aylmer views his wife’s birthmark as more than a congenital, benign irregularity on the skin. In reality, the primary reason why he becomes severely obsessed with the birthmark is because in his eyes, the mark symbolizes something. Aylmer proceeds to further clarify his inner thoughts by replying to his wife, “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” (Mays 340). Although Georgiana is initially mortified and even goes as far to question the existence of the marriage between them, the narration later sheds light and explains that the precise reason why Aylmer is excessively bothered with the birthmark is because he regards Georgiana as virtually the embodiment of perfection. As a consequence, perceiving a flaw on his wife’s image that clashes with the concept of her beauty inevitably leads him to feel aggrieved and begin to judge the birthmark as a dangerous blemish residing on her skin.

Too often in this world does man attempt to perfect nature. Tampering with this sort of element most commonly leads to a disaster to come extent. Because man is never satisfied, he is constantly vying for perfection, regardless of the outcome. Such is the case in Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story, 'The Birthmark.' Aylmer's persistent attempt to perfect nature is the cause of Georgiana's demise and the affirmation that when man tampers with such a powerful component terrible things may occur.

A birthmark is irregularity mark on the skin which is present at your face or body since your birth. Some birthmark fade, shrink or even disappear while some birthmark stay with you forever. Sometimes these unwanted birthmarks are also associated with the various health problems and need to be treated or removed.

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Birth-Mark is considered to be one of the best stories of American history, which shows the gender roles in the society and the inequality that women have to deal with on a day-to-day basis because of the limitations set on them by the society. The main focus of the story is the relationship between Aylmer, a scientist who is well known across Europe for his achievements in the field, and his wife Georgina.

    Charlotte Bronte makes extensive use of nature imagery in her novel, Jane Eyre, commenting on both the human relationship with the outdoors and with human nature. The Oxford Reference Dictionary defines "nature" as "1. the phenomena of the physical world as a whole . . . 2. a thing's essential qualities; a person's or animal's innate character . . . 4. vital force, functions, or needs." Bronte speaks to each of these definitions throughout Jane Eyre.

Although “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne was written in the mid-1800s, its themes and ideas are still a part of society today. The 19th century was a time of change, just as this, the millennium, is a time of great change. Hawthorne’s ideas about science, beauty, and life still play a major part in our lives, despite many improvements. Even today, people try to play “God” and change things that nature has put in place. It’s human curiosity; how much can be changed, how many things can be perfected? The themes in this short story-- religion, gender, and science--were relevant in Hawthorne’s day, and still are many years later. The theme of religion is hidden in the desire to erase

Hawthorne, Nathaniel “The Birthmark” Literature and the Writing Process, edited by Elizabeth McMahan, believed that Aylmer’s belief is that to have life there must be imperfection and losing imperfection was losing life. She explains as she shows us how “The Birthmark” which is a story filled with symbolisms and irony. Hawthorne displayed this belief in his short story "The Birthmark”, which is about a scientist named Aylmer who becomes disgusted by his wife, Georgiana’s tiny birthmark on her left cheek and kills her in the process of trying to remove it. He sees it as a flaw in his beautiful wife. Georgiana knows that her birthmark disgusts him. She began to feel disgusted by this birthmark when she realizes her husband’s disgust with it; she had never felt hate for herself until she realizes his feelings toward her birthmark. He asks if she has ever considered having it removed. This is not something she never looked at this way before, considering that other people in her life, especially men, had always seen it as a “charm”. Aylmer was not trying to just get rid of Georgiana's birthmark, rather, he was trying to change nature, He believed he had control over it. That's where things took a toll for and up for the worst. Aylmer had a hard time accepting imperfections in life.