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The Birthmark Short Story

Decent Essays
In the short stories “A Rose for Emily,” by William Faulkner, and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Birthmark,” symbolism is crucial in adding depth to the stories. Both of these stories are unique in their own senses and tell tragic tales, with “A Rose for Emily,” sharing a tale of a woman who grows old while isolated from most of her community and starts to fall off her rocker, while in “The Birthmark” the reader learns lessons on fleeting beauty and humanity. The symbolism that is engraven deeply into both stories is vital in showing how while things may seem one way, they are actually representing a deeper concept and meaning. In the first short story “The Birthmark,” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the most crucial symbol is evidently mentioned in the title- it is a birthmark that is bestowed upon the lovely Georgiana’s cheek. The story’s plot begins with Georgiana, who is considered by most men to be the most beautiful woman around with her birthmark being seen as charming, marrying a scientist named Aylmer. Instead of seeing Georgiana as a flawless woman that he loves regardless, he becomes very fixated on the birthmark on her cheek. Quite early in the story he even expresses this to Georgiana stating that is was shocking to him and that it was a shame because the rest of her was so perfect. This causes Georgiana to feel distraught as she cries out “You cannot love what shocks you!” (321). Georgiana at this point feels rather unloved by her husband, and while she never had felt
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