The Birthmark - Nathanial Hawthorne: Achieve Perfection

The specific value that permeates Nathanial Hawthorne's short story titled, "The Birthmark," is beauty, a quality possessed by Georgiana, the wife of a dedicated "man of science, an eminent proficient in every branch of natural philosophy" named Aylmer (Hawthorne 402). He professes that he is shocked by a birthmark on her face which he calls "the visible mark of earthly imperfection," and which he sees as marring the very real physical beauty which she possesses when it sometimes appears when she is under the influence of some deep emotion (Hawthorne 402). Aylmer's inability to see the birthmark as anything more than a "frightful object, causing him more trouble and horror than ever Georgiana's beauty" leads to the loss of his wife and his effort to use science to remove a putative defect that others admire as a "charm" (Hawthorne 403).

As Aylmer's marriage unfolds, he decides that he can use his science to eliminate the "fatal" birthmark that is present on his wife's cheek (Hawthorne 404). She willingly accepts the risk that would accompany such an effort because her husband feels

Related Essays

Hawthorne's story The Birthmark Thesis: Hawthorne's story, "The Birthmark," is an allegory of marriages that fail because male domination, in what should be a partnership, produces death .... (1979 8 )

"The Birthmark" & "Rappaccini's Daughter" Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Birthmark" and "Rappaccini's Daughter" both deal with man's pursuit of beauty, yet his failure to recognize true beauty when he .... (782 3 )

Nathaniel Hawthorne Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Birthmark" and "Rappaccini's Daughter" both deal with man's pursuit of beauty, yet his failure to recognize true beauty when he .... (782 3 )

Deals or Pacts in Literature .... This is also what happens to Dr. Faustus in Christopher Marlowe's play, as well as to Aylmer in Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Birthmark". .... (1584 6 )

Walt Whitman & Nathaniel Hawthorne .... is on display in "The Artist of the Beautiful," while his disdain for scientists is best exemplified in "Rappaccini's Daughter" and "The Birthmark." Unlike the .... (1452 6 )

Category: Literature - T