Elizabeth R. Napier’s article “Aylmer as ‘Scheidekünstler’: The Pattern of Union and Separation” is an analysis of the underlying messages in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Birth-Mark.” Hawthorne’s short story describes the attempts of an alchemist, Aylmer, to remove a birthmark from his wife Georgiana’s cheek. Unfortunately, Aylmer soon becomes so obsessed with the birthmark’s removal that he gifts Georgiana a concoction that leads to her death; nonetheless, Aylmer is more contented that the birthmark is gone than discontented that his wife is dead. Many critics believe the central theme of “The Birth-Mark” is the human obsession with perfection; however, Napier believes that the predominant underlying messages involve union and separation. Although…show more content… My opinion corresponds to that of the critics; the primary premise of Hawthorne’s short story is the human obsession with perfection. Hawthorne’s entire short work revolves around the removal of the birthmark and Aylmer’s obsession with removing it. Aylmer sees Georgiana’s birthmark as a curse, a stain on a perfectly white canvas, “Aylmer’s somber imagination was not long in rendering the birthmark a frightful object, causing him more trouble and horror than ever Georgiana’s beauty, whether of soul or sense, had given him delight” (Hawthorne 341). He dreams of the birthmark’s disappearance, and seems to be trying to coax Georgina into letting him eliminate it. The closer Aylmer gets to removing the birthmark, the more he seems to love and praise Georgiana, “There is no taint of imperfection on thy spirit. Thy sensible frame too shall soon be perfect” (Hawthorne 349). Napier also points this out as Aylmer is attempting to create a concoction to remove the birthmark, “his passion for Georgiana increases in disturbing proportion as the possibilities for fulfillment wane” (Napier 33). Aylmer goes from insulting Georgina on the grounds that she wants to keep the birthmark, to praising her for wanting to sacrifice her life to eliminate it. In my opinion, the true main theme of “The Birth-Mark” is the human…show more content… While union and separation may be premises of “The Birth-Mark,” I do not believe that they are the most prominent themes. Although I disagree with Napier’s main argument, I do find her interpretation of Aylmer as an artist of separation intriguing. Aylmer’s life and career have all revolved around finding new ways to separate in order to
