Perfection In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Birthmark

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Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story “The Birthmark” demonstrates the theme that the image of perfection cannot be reached through science and technology. He wrote this story because he believed that people were being to dependent on science and he wanted to remind them that there was nothing more powerful and beautiful than nature. This message was told through a story about a scientist named Aylmer and his beautiful wife, Georgiana, who has a small, hand-shape birthmark on her left cheek. This story could’ve been a sweet love story but it actually turned into a tragedy when Aylmer became obsessed with his wife’s small imperfection, the birthmark. He viewed his wife’s imperfection as something that held her back from true beauty which is total …show more content…
He was so devoted to get rid of the birthmark “however, too unreservedly to scientific studies ever to be weaned from them by any second passion. His love for his young wife might prove the stronger of the two; but it could only be by intertwining itself with his love of science, and uniting the strength of the latter to his own.” (Hawthorne) Meaning even though Aylmer loved his wife, he cared about science even more. Throughout the story, Aylmer pleaded his wife over and over again to remove the mark. By doing that he tore Georgiana’s self-esteem. He insisted that the birthmark was the only thing that kept her from being perfectly beautiful. He being a scientist believed that with science, he could fix anything including his wife. Georgiana understandably was upset at her husband’s mean comments. Especially because her previous boyfriends had told her that it had added to her charm. Unlike her husband who stated “No, dearest Georgiana 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) He becomes so obsessed about it that he dreamed about the birthmark, and shudders at the sight of it. All he wants is both for Georgiana to have a perfect face and to achieve the impossible in science, …show more content…
Perfection in this story is illustrated by Aylmer and his deep desire to make his wife even more perfect by removing her birthmark. Alternately, the themes of science versus nature are demonstrated by the relationship and the characters of Aylmer and Georgina. Aylmer reflects the power of science which desires to control nature; while Georgina symbolizes nature which triumphs over science at the end of the story. Ultimately, The Birthmark is a story of how one man can think a little too highly of himself when he tries to change what is not meant to be changed. Things are created and put in place for a reason, and who are we as human beings to try to change god’s creations. This story was a perfect example of tampering with the laws of nature and suffering the consequences and repercussions of our
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