Many years have passed after Dimmesdale’s death. The people, who were spectators of the event, deny that there was a mark on the minister’s breast. Because Dimmesdale was an exemplary of a human they wanted to be, the people perhaps want to believe the best in the minister, which shows that the people believe what they think rather than accept the truth.
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.
We set our scene in a Puritan town in 1600s New England. Nathaniel Hawthorne weaves a tale of imperfection, guilt, and secret sin. In the strict town, resident Hester Prynne stands upon a scaffold with a baby and a Scarlet Letter upon her bosom, both tokens of her sin. The intricate letter “A” stands for her very sin of adultery which lead to the birth of the child in her arms. The townspeople cannot help but stare at symbol of imperfection, but they cannot stare at what is underneath it all. Hidden and locked away was the same imperfection hidden on the town’s own reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. A man of God with a burden to bear, the guilt would seep into his soul. Him, the father of Pearl, the baby born into
However, Dimmesdale’s self-punishment goes to a new level when he begins to torture himself physically. Not only had the minister been refusing to seek help, evident by his uneasiness towards Roger’s medical advice even before his true identity was revealed, but he went as far as to inflict harm upon himself. As Nathaniel Hawthorne describes, “In Dimmesdale’s secret closet, under lock and key, there was a bloody scourge.... It was his custom, too, as it has been that of many other pious Puritans, to fast… until his knees trembled beneath him… He kept vigils, likewise, night after night…” (141). This demonstrated the extent of Dimmesdale's self-punishment through starvation, whippings, and sleep deprivation. The self-torment escalates even further when it is found out that Dimmesdale had also been imprinting his chest with the letter “A,” leaving many to theorize that the mark either came from burning or cutting. In comparing Dimmesdale’s fasting to that of the other Puritans, Hawthorne also states, that Dimmesdale did not harm himself “in order to purify the body and render it the fitter medium of celestial illumination, but… as an act of penance” (141). The novel emphasizes that Dimmesdale’s self-torment is not him committing self-flagellation to purify his soul of sin, but rather an attempt to punish himself for what he believed was a wrong-doing. Due to these actions, Dimmesdale’s character could be viewed as a desperate man attempting to right his wrongs, but the fact
"Invasion of the Body Snatchers," a film released in the 1950s, gained immense cultural significance by delving into the pervasive fear and conformity of the Cold War era. This film, set in a small California town, follows Dr. Miles Bennell as he discovers that the town's residents are being replaced by alien replicas grown from pods. As paranoia spreads, Miles races against time to alert others, but finds himself isolated in his struggle against the encroaching alien presence. The film gained popularity in the 1950s for its resonance with the Cold War events, marked by fears of Communist infiltration, the Red Scare, and McCarthyism. The movie "Invasion of the Body Snatchers'' serves as a powerful commentary on the theme of conformity during
Nathanial Hawthorne writes a compelling story about a recently married scientist whose wife has a blemish on her cheek. “The Birthmark” written in 1843 is a critique of domesticity, feminine sexuality, and perfectionism. Cindy Weinstein takes the stance that “The Birthmark” is a critique of feminine sexuality. Weinstein suggests, “A key reason, then, that Aylmer wants to erase the birthmark is that it signifies a sexuality with which he is deeply uncomfortable” (123). This argument is seen throughout Hawthorne’s story, but Weinstein’s argument can be taken a step further to deal with the root cause, control. Aylmer is disturbed with Georgiana’s birthmark due to the fact that it signifies her sexual desires that he is unable to control.
In Nathaniel Hawthorne 's “The Birthmark”, we find the tragic story of a woman named Georgiana who sacrificed her life for the sake of appeasing her husband, Aylmer. What did Georgiana do that it was more favorable for her to die than to continuing to displease her husband? Georgiana, who was otherwise hailed as incomparably beautiful, had a birthmark on her face. Aylmer desired this to remove this birthmark, which he considered the one thing keeping her from being “perfect”, from her face. In an attempt to remedy his wife’s “imperfection”, Aylmer makes an elixir for her to drink. While this elixir successfully removes the birthmark, the same elixir also causes Georgiana to die soon after. This story brings to light several examples of how society belittles women and puts their desires below the desires of men.
He groped along as stealthily, with as cautious a tread, and as wary an outlook, as a thief entering a chamber where a man lies only half asleep,—or, it may be, broad awake,—with purpose to steal the very treasure which this man guards as the apple of his eye. In spite of his premeditated carefulness, the floor would now and then creak; his garments would rustle; the shadow of his presence, in a forbidden proximity, would be thrown across his victim. In other words, Mr. Dimmesdale, whose sensibility of nerve often produced the effect of spiritual intuition, would become vaguely aware that something inimical to his peace had thrust itself into relation with him. But Old Roger Chillingworth, too, had perceptions that were almost intuitive; and when the minister threw his startled eyes towards him, there the physician sat; his kind, watchful, sympathizing, but never intrusive friend.
Women were meant to just be beautiful and this birthmark hindered her beauty in his mind. Aylmer could no longer even keep a straight face when looking at his wife. When Aylmer looked at Georgiana it was with an expression that Hawthorne described as “ a deathlike paleness, amid which the crimson hand was brought strongly out, like a bass-relief of ruby on white marble” (Hawthorne 3). This birthmark made it hard for Aylmer to even look at Georgiana without making a face of disgust, this was a look that made Georgiana shutter. As time went on thinking about this birthmark started to haunt Aylmer in his dreams; Aylmer would have horrible nightmares about it.
One of the most striking aspects of the 19th century is the distinctive use of gender roles and expectations. Specifically, these aspects are provided strongly in the “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, a short story that demonstrates the 19th century couple, Aylmer and Georgiana, who are faced with the predicament of an imperfection taking the shape of a birthmark upon Georgina's cheek. By 19th century standards, Georgiana is successful at fulfilling the role of a wife.
Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter unfolds the tale of Hester Prynne, who brought forth a child through adultery and battles a life faced with the consequences of her sin. Throughout her life, Hester is consistently reminded of her affair as she wears a scarlet letter representing “A” for adultery, experiences alienation, and encounters hostility from the Puritan community. However, Hester is not the only individual who suffers with consequences of adultery as both her significant other, Dimmesdale, and daughter, Pearl, endure miserable lives of shame, guilt, and rejection. Hawthorne demonstrates that the revelation of the truth can allow one to gain a sense of freedom.
Wilson Sullivan in “Nathaniel Hawthorne” in New England Men of Letters states that Nathaniel Hawthorne’s tale, “The Birthmark,” depicts the efforts “of a deranged scientist to obtain total perfection” in his wife by removal of a facial blemish. In this story the scientist operates on the superficial level of the physical world, while the woman, the truly heroic woman, functions on the level of the heart and soul, the more significant level. She it is who in her virtue provides for the reader an example to live by, even though she loses her life in the process. This essay hopes to explore the status, role, attitude toward women and other such issues.
Hawthorne demonstrates this through Aylmer’s obsession of Georgiana’s birthmark, the allusion of Pygmalion, and lastly, the birthmark’s symbolic representation of mortality. Hawthorne begins his argument
Hawthorne uses vivid imagery in “The Birthmark,” to create a depiction of a superficial relationship. In this southern gothic short story, there is a beautiful woman named Georgiana. She had porcelain skin that represented purity, and a red birthmark that her husband, Aylmer sees as sin. (pg 4) She wass perfect in everyway, but the birthmark was the only thing holding her back from complete perfection to her husband. He tried to convince her to remove it, but she didn’t want to. He then removed the birthmark while she was sleeping, but then did from this, (pg 12). Aylmer’s love was conditional, and as long as Georgina had the birthmark, he will be
One of the major themes presented in the story is the difference between reality and imagination. Mrs. Dover sees and hears various noises and objects, yet it is unknown if what she is experiencing is all in her mind or truly happening. She physically sees and touches the letter, but her, “Association of the letter with the soldier-lover makes the reality of the letter questionable, although it is a physical object” (“The Demon Lover”).
I was first introduced to healthcare as a member of AmeriCorps in 1995. I learned in the corps as a family support worker that poverty and health disparity are interrelated. After the corps I went to work to a for-profit healthcare receivables company that taught me the business of healthcare. I transitioned out of healthcare for a short time before returning to a not for profit health care organization whose mission closely aligned with my own and I’m still there.