literary analysis essay on the birthmark

A Summary and Analysis of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s ‘The Birthmark’

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

‘The Birthmark’ is a short story by the nineteenth-century American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne, first published in 1843. Although not as well-known as ‘Young Goodman Brown’ or ‘The Minister’s Black Veil’, ‘The Birthmark’ is an intriguing tale which, like those more famous stories, contains ambiguous symbolism within its straightforward plot.

You can read ‘The Birthmark’ here before proceeding to our summary and analysis of Hawthorne’s story below.

‘The Birthmark’: plot summary

The protagonist of ‘The Birthmark’ is Aylmer, a ‘natural philosopher’ (what we would now call a ‘scientist’), who is revered throughout the scientific community for his genius. He is married to Georgina, who is praised for her beauty. However, Georgina has one glaring imperfection: her left cheek contains a birthmark or blemish, a small crimson mark in the shape of a hand.

Aylmer proposes to remove the birthmark so as to make his nearly-perfect wife completely perfect in every physical aspect. Georgina eventually agrees, trusting her husband’s talents, although she is initially hurt that he finds her birthmark so shocking to look at. She comes to the conclusion that she may as well risk the experiment, since she would rather die than continue to live with such a blemish, since it generates such horror in her husband.

Aylmer shows Georgina his laboratory where he conducts his experiments. She is later shocked when she finds his journal detailing the various experiments he has conducted, and vows to trust him when he experiments on her.

Aylmer, with the help of his servant, Aminadab, creates a potion which he demonstrates on a plant, bringing its leaves back to life. Satisfied that the potion will work, Georgina then drinks it down. She falls into a slumber, and Aylmer notices that, sure enough, the hand-shaped birthmark on his wife’s cheek is fading.

When she wakes up, Aylmer shows her that the birthmark has disappeared and he has been successful. However, his wife reveals that she is dying, and shortly after this she dies in front of him.

‘The Birthmark’: analysis

Like many of Hawthorne’s stories, ‘The Birthmark’ is, at bottom, allegorical: it is about the dangers of seeking perfection, especially human perfection, of all kinds, because to do so runs the risk of destroying what makes us ‘human’ in the first place. We use the phrase ‘you’re only human’ when someone acknowledges their own flaws or mistakes.

Georgina’s birthmark is a ‘flaw’ which makes her not only human, but the woman Aylmer married in the first place. It is deliberate on Hawthorne’s part that the birthmark only becomes a problem for Aylmer after he has married her.

The birthmark also represents Aylmer’s determination to use scientific means to change nature at all costs: at one point, he calls himself a ‘sorcerer’, and he has much in common with the older magicians in folklore and literature, such as Faust or that latter-day magician, Victor Frankenstein.

He views it as a challenge, his next great project, and is committed to removing it using his own ingenuity and experimentation. He is, in a sense, another fictional scientist playing God, using his powers to try to alter what God or Mother Nature have created. In the first paragraph of the story, Hawthorne tells us,

In those days when the comparatively recent discovery of electricity and other kindred mysteries of Nature seemed to open paths into the region of miracle, it was not unusual for the love of science to rival the love of woman in its depth and absorbing energy.

This not only shows how Godlike men like Aylmer consider themselves, and their powers, to be; it also brings together the two loves of Aylmer’s life, his love of Georgina and his love of science. But in many ways his love of science will not only ‘rival’ but come to supersede his love for his wife, since he is prepared to risk her life (as proves to be the case) in order to remove the birthmark from her face.

A birthmark, in being a cosmetic defect, poses no danger to Georgina’s own health, but his own horror at it, and determination to rid himself of the ‘shudder’ which it inspires in him, convinces her to let him remove it at any cost.

Indeed, Aylmer’s dream is revealing in that, as so often in literary works, it acts as a premonition. Early on in ‘The Birthmark’, Hawthorne establishes a link between Georgina’s outward appearance, including that hand-shaped birthmark, and her inner self, symbolised by the heart : he describes the blemish as a ‘mimic hand, now vaguely portrayed, now lost, now stealing forth again and glimmering to and fro with every pulse of emotion that throbbed within her heart’. Then comes his dream:

Aylmer now remembered his dream. He had fancied himself with his servant Aminadab, attempting an operation for the removal of the birthmark; but the deeper went the knife, the deeper sank the hand, until at length its tiny grasp appeared to have caught hold of Georgiana’s heart; whence, however, her husband was inexorably resolved to cut or wrench it away.

Despite this warning, Aylmer – supported by Georgina – remains determined to find a way of ridding his wife of this blemish, with the inevitable tragic results. He has triumphed in a scientific sense, but he has failed in a bigger one.

Indeed, if we wished to reduce ‘The Birthmark’ to a single ‘moral’ (a dangerous thing to do, but a handy ‘way in’ to the story), we could do worse than to summarise it as being about the dangers of focusing too much on one problem without taking into account the broader context of that problem.

Aylmer’s monomaniacal focus on his wife’s birthmark blinds him to her otherwise beautiful features, and he is not unlike the proverbial man who found a rat in his house so burned the place to the ground. In seeking to destroy one unwanted detail, he unwittingly destroys all of the things around it which he loved and treasured.

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“The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne: A Critique

“The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne appearing in 1843 explores the dangers of obsession and perfectionism.

Introduction: “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Table of Contents

“The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne appearing in 1843 explores the dangers of obsession and perfectionism. Despite receiving mixed reviews upon its publication, the story has since become one of Hawthorne’s most popular and well-known works. It has been widely anthologized and adapted into various forms of media, including television, film, and stage productions. The story’s enduring popularity can be attributed to its timeless themes of human nature, morality, and the struggle between science and nature.

Main Events of “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne

• Aylmer, a brilliant scientist, marries Georgiana, a beautiful woman with a small birthmark on her cheek.
• Aylmer becomes obsessed with removing the birthmark, believing it to be a flaw in her otherwise perfect appearance.
• Aylmer creates an elixir that he believes will remove the birthmark and convinces Georgiana to drink it.
• Georgiana becomes ill from the elixir but eventually recovers, and the birthmark appears to have faded.
• Aylmer becomes overjoyed at the success of his experiment but becomes fixated on removing a tiny remaining portion of the birthmark.
• Aylmer performs a dangerous experiment on Georgiana to remove the final portion of the birthmark, which causes her to become even more ill.
• Despite Georgiana’s condition, Aylmer continues his experiment until it is too late, and Georgiana dies on the operating table.
• Aylmer becomes consumed with guilt over Georgiana’s death, realizing that his obsession with perfectionism and science has led to her demise.
• Aylmer has a dream in which Georgiana appears with the birthmark still on her cheek, reminding him of the beauty and imperfection of human nature.
• Aylmer dies shortly after the dream, possibly from grief or madness.

Literary Devices in “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne

• Allusion – a reference to a literary, historical, or cultural figure or event, such as the story of the Garden of Eden in the Bible, which is alluded to in the story when Aylmer names his laboratory “Eden” (Hawthorne, “The Birthmark”).
• Foreshadowing – hints or clues about events that will occur later in the story, such as Aylmer’s previous failures in scientific experiments, which foreshadow Georgiana’s death during his final experiment (Hawthorne, “The Birthmark”).
• Hyperbole – an exaggeration used for emphasis or effect, such as Aylmer’s description of Georgiana’s birthmark as “the fatal flaw” that “Nature, in one shape or another, stamps ineffaceably on all her productions” (Hawthorne, “The Birthmark”).
• Imagery – the use of vivid and descriptive language that appeals to the reader’s senses, such as the description of Georgiana’s beauty and the laboratory’s atmosphere, which create strong mental images for the reader (Hawthorne, “The Birthmark”).
• Irony – a contrast between what is expected and what actually happens, such as the irony of Aylmer’s obsession with removing the birthmark, which ultimately leads to Georgiana’s death (Hawthorne, “The Birthmark”).
• Metaphor – a comparison between two unlike things, such as the comparison of Georgiana’s birthmark to a “crimson hand” that “seemed to spread its stain with the magic of a wizard” (Hawthorne, “The Birthmark”).
• Motif – a recurring image or idea, such as the motif of science and experimentation, which runs throughout the story and serves to highlight the dangers of pursuing perfection (Hawthorne, “The Birthmark”).
• Narration – the way the story is told, such as the use of third-person limited narration, which allows the reader to see inside Aylmer’s mind but not Georgiana’s (Hawthorne, “The Birthmark”).
• Personification – giving human qualities to non-human things, such as the personification of the laboratory equipment as “weird ministers” that “kept watch” over the experiment (Hawthorne, “The Birthmark”).
• Point of view – the perspective from which the story is told, such as the use of omniscient narration, which allows the reader to see the thoughts and feelings of multiple characters (Hawthorne, “The Birthmark”).
• Repetition – the use of repeating words, phrases, or images, such as the repetition of the birthmark as a symbol of imperfection and mortality throughout the story (Hawthorne, “The Birthmark”).
• Satire – the use of humor, irony, or ridicule to criticize and expose flaws in society or individuals, such as the satire of Aylmer’s pursuit of perfection, which is shown to be misguided and ultimately tragic (Hawthorne, “The Birthmark”).
• Simile – a comparison between two things using “like” or “as,” such as the simile comparing Georgiana’s birthmark to a “crimson stain” that is “deepening like a blush” (Hawthorne, “The Birthmark”).
• Symbolism – the use of symbols to represent ideas or themes, such as the birthmark symbolizing mortality, imperfection, and the dangers of pursuing perfection (Hawthorne, “The Birthmark”).

Characterization in “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Major characters:.

• Aylmer: The protagonist of the story, a scientist obsessed with perfection, and husband to Georgiana. He seeks to remove her birthmark, which he sees as a symbol of her imperfection, ultimately leading to her death.
• Georgiana: The wife of Aylmer and the owner of the birthmark. She is a beautiful and virtuous woman who is deeply in love with her husband and agrees to undergo the dangerous experiment to remove her birthmark.
• Aminadab: Aylmer’s assistant and a physical embodiment of the natural world. He is seen as crude and unrefined, serving as a contrast to Aylmer’s intellectual pursuits.

Minor Characters:

• Alchemy: A fictional medieval precursor to modern chemistry, which Aylmer is deeply interested in.
• Baglioni: A fellow scientist and rival of Aylmer, who warns Georgiana about the dangers of her husband’s experiment.
• Nature: A recurring theme in the story, representing the beauty and imperfection of the natural world that Aylmer seeks to overcome.
• Handmaidens: Women who attend to Georgiana and offer their condolences after her death.

Major Themes in “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Obsession with Perfection

• Aylmer, the scientist, becomes fixated on his wife Georgiana’s tiny, hand-shaped birthmark, a perceived imperfection in his otherwise beautiful wife.
• His obsession fuels his drive to use science to erase this mark and create a “perfect” woman.
• This pursuit symbolizes the dangers inherent in the relentless quest for the unattainable ideal of perfection.

The Dangers of Hubris and Playing God

• Aylmer’s arrogance leads him to believe he has the power to alter the very essence of nature itself and improve upon it.
• His attempts highlight a belief that science can conquer all, including human mortality and imperfection.
• The story acts as a cautionary tale about the dangers of overstepping boundaries and tampering with the natural world.

The Destructive Nature of Idealism

• Aylmer’s idealism is focused on an external idea of beauty rather than embracing the true essence of his wife.
• He objectifies Georgiana, seeing her only as a project rather than a whole person.
• This pursuit of an ideal destroys their relationship and ultimately leads to Georgiana’s demise.

The Ambiguity of Science

• Hawthorne presents science as a double-edged sword – a force that could be used for good or for ill.
• Aylmer’s laboratory represents the potential of science for creation, but also of the unforeseen dangers and the potential for destruction.
• The story doesn’t condemn science outright but asks us to consider the ethics and consequences of its application.

Writing Style in “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne

• Rich Symbolism: The birthmark itself, described as “a slender, reddish line, projected like a tiny scarlet streamlet, purposely inflicted by the malice of an enemy” (Hawthorne), becomes a symbol of Georgiana’s supposed imperfection and Aylmer’s obsession.
• Intricate Characterization: Hawthorne delves into the characters’ inner struggles. We see Aylmer’s “cold and analytic intellect” (Hawthorne) in conflict with his love for Georgiana, creating a complex and morally ambiguous character.
• Emphasis on the Human Condition: The story explores universal themes like the fear of imperfection, the destructive nature of ambition, and the limitations of science.
• Omniscient Narrator with Depth: The narrator goes beyond just events, revealing “the secret workings of the human heart” (Hawthorne), providing insight into the characters’ motivations.
• Vivid Imagery and Eerie Atmosphere: Descriptions like Aylmer’s “dusky walls of his laboratory” (Hawthorne) and the “lurid gleam” (Hawthorne) of his experiments create a sense of suspense and gothic horror.
• Allegorical Interpretation: The story can be read as an allegory for the dangers of seeking a utopian world, with Aylmer representing the overreach of science and Georgiana symbolizing the flawed yet beautiful nature of humanity.
• Thought-Provoking Complexity: Hawthorne’s use of metaphor, like comparing Georgiana to a “fallen angel” (Hawthorne), invites readers to question societal ideals and the pursuit of knowledge.

Literary Theories and Interpretation of “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Questions and thesis statements about “the birthmark” by nathaniel hawthorne.

• Question: How does Hawthorne use symbolism to convey the theme of perfectionism in “The Birthmark”?

Thesis statemen t: Through the symbol of the birthmark, Hawthorne explores the dangers of perfectionism and the human desire to control and manipulate nature.

• Question: How does the conflict between science and nature drive the plot and character development in “The Birthmark”?

Thesis statement: The conflict between science and nature in “The Birthmark” highlights the tension between the pursuit of knowledge and the natural order, ultimately leading to tragic consequences for the characters involved.

• Question: In what ways does Georgiana’s character represent the societal expectations of women in the 19th century?

Thesis statement: Through Georgiana’s willingness to conform to male standards of beauty and her eventual sacrifice for her husband’s desires, Hawthorne critiques the patriarchal societal expectations placed on women in the 19th century.

• Question: How does Aylmer’s character reflect the dangers of scientific hubris in “The Birthmark”?

Thesis statement: Aylmer’s scientific hubris and obsession with perfectionism ultimately lead to the tragic consequences of the story, serving as a cautionary tale against the dangers of unchecked scientific ambition.

• Question: How does Hawthorne’s use of irony contribute to the overall meaning of “The Birthmark”?

Thesis statement: Through his use of irony, Hawthorne critiques the societal expectations of perfection and the dangers of scientific ambition in “The Birthmark”, ultimately revealing the tragic consequences of these ideals.

Short Question-Answers about “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne

• How does Hawthorne use symbolism to comment on societal expectations of beauty in “The Birthmark”? In “The Birthmark,” the birthmark on Georgiana’s face represents societal expectations of beauty and the pressure placed on women to conform to male standards of perfection. Aylmer’s obsession with removing the birthmark highlights the dangers of perfectionism and the societal belief that women must be perfect in order to be valuable. The birthmark itself is symbolic of the imperfections that exist within all people, and Georgiana’s decision to sacrifice herself in order to meet Aylmer’s expectations is a commentary on the sacrifices women have been expected to make throughout history in order to meet societal expectations.
• How does “The Birthmark” reflect the anxieties of the time period it was written in?

“The Birthmark” was written in the mid-19th century, a time period marked by rapid scientific and technological advances. The story reflects the anxieties of the time period by exploring the consequences of unchecked scientific ambition and the dangers of the pursuit of perfection. The conflict between science and nature in the story mirrors the anxieties of the time period over the potential consequences of technological progress and the fear of upsetting the natural order of things.

• What is the significance of Aylmer’s dream in “The Birthmark”?

Aylmer’s dream in which he attempts to remove the birthmark from Georgiana’s face represents his obsession with perfection and his desire to control nature. The dream foreshadows the tragic consequences that will result from Aylmer’s unchecked ambition and serves as a warning about the dangers of playing God.

• How does Hawthorne use irony in “The Birthmark” to comment on societal expectations of women?

Hawthorne uses irony in “The Birthmark” to comment on societal expectations of women by portraying Georgiana as the epitome of perfection, but ultimately punishing her for her perceived imperfection. Aylmer’s obsession with perfection is ultimately what leads to Georgiana’s death, highlighting the societal pressure placed on women to meet impossible standards of beauty and perfection. The irony serves as a critique of the patriarchal societal expectations placed on women during the time period in which the story was written.

Literary Works Similar to “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne

• “Rappaccini’s Daughter” (Nathaniel Hawthorne): A story centered on a scientist’s dangerous obsession with manipulating nature, exploring the potential consequences of altering living beings.
• The Picture of Dorian Gray (Oscar Wilde): A novel focused on the corrupting pursuit of eternal youth and beauty, ultimately highlighting the moral consequences of defying the natural order.
• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Robert Louis Stevenson): A novella examining the duality of human nature and the dangers of scientific experimentation in attempting to separate good and evil.
• Frankenstein (Mary Shelley): A seminal Gothic novel exploring themes of overreaching scientific ambition, the consequences of defying nature, and the boundaries between life and death.
• “ The Yellow Wallpaper ” (Charlotte Perkins Gilman): A short story illustrating the destructive confinement imposed by societal expectations, and a descent into madness stemming from a suppression of identity and autonomy.
• The Works of Edgar Allan Poe: Particularly stories such as “Ligeia” and “The Fall of the House of Usher,” often delve into themes of obsession, macabre beauty, mortality, and the psychological effects of transgressing boundaries.

Suggested Readings: “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Scholarly articles.

• Bersani, Leo. “The Birthmark.” Novel: A Forum on Fiction , vol. 1, no. 3, 1968, pp. 256-263.
• Cervo, Nathan. “The Birthmark’: A Romance of Science.” Essays in Literature , vol. 13, no. 1, 1986, pp. 51-63.
• Idol, John L. “New Spirits and Old Prejudices: The Growth of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Image of Science.” American Quarterly , vol. 22, no. 2, 1970, pp. 316-331.
• Bloom, Harold, editor. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Birthmark . Chelsea House Publishers, 2004.
• Newberry, Frederick. Hawthorne’s Divided Loyalties: Characters and Themes in His Major Tales . Associated University Presses, 1997.
• Waggoner, Hyatt Howe. Hawthorne: A Critical Study . Revised Edition, Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1963.

Reputable Websites

• LitCharts: The Birthmark. https://www.litcharts.com/ (Provides detailed summaries, analysis, and contextual information)
• Shmoop: The Birthmark. https://www.shmoop.com/ (Offers accessible analysis and study guide resources)

Further Research Resources

• Academic Search Engines: JSTOR ( https://www.jstor.org/ ) and Project Muse ( https://muse.jhu.edu/ ) are excellent resources for finding peer-reviewed scholarly articles.
• Library Resources: Consult your local or university library for books dedicated to Hawthorne’s works or the analysis of short fiction

Related posts:

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• “Good Country People” by Flannery O’Connor: Analysis

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The Birthmark Analysis by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story “The Birthmark” is a thought-provoking tale that explores themes of perfection, science, nature, and human hubris. Published in 1843, this story continues to captivate readers with its rich symbolism and profound questions about the human condition.

In this post, we’ll break down the key elements of the story and provide a detailed critical analysis.

What You'll Learn

Plot Summary

Before we dive into the analysis, let’s quickly recap the story:

Aylmer, a brilliant scientist, marries the beautiful Georgiana. Georgiana has a small, hand-shaped birthmark on her cheek, which Aylmer sees as a flaw in her otherwise perfect beauty. Obsessed with removing this “imperfection,” Aylmer convinces Georgiana to undergo a dangerous procedure to remove the birthmark. Despite initial hesitation, Georgiana agrees, driven by her love for Aylmer and her own growing insecurity about the mark.

Aylmer, assisted by his servant Aminadab, creates a potion to remove the birthmark. Georgiana drinks it and falls into a deep sleep. As she sleeps, the birthmark fades away, but so does Georgiana’s life force. She wakes briefly, sees that the birthmark is gone, and dies, leaving Aylmer to face the consequences of his obsession with perfection.

Character Analysis

Aylmer is the protagonist of the story, though his actions are far from heroic. Let’s break down his character:

• Brilliant but flawed: Aylmer is a respected scientist with a keen intellect. However, his brilliance is overshadowed by his obsession with perfection.
• Hubris: Aylmer’s fatal flaw is his excessive pride and overconfidence in his scientific abilities. He believes he can improve upon nature itself.
• Symbolism of science: Aylmer represents the scientific pursuit of knowledge and control over nature, often at the expense of human values and emotions.
• Lack of acceptance: He is unable to accept imperfection, even in something as minor as a birthmark on his wife’s face.
• Tragic figure: Despite his intentions to “perfect” his wife, Aylmer’s actions lead to tragedy, making him a classic example of a tragic hero brought down by his own flaws.

Example: Aylmer’s hubris is evident when he says, “I feel myself fully competent to render this dear cheek as faultless as its fellow; and then, most beloved, what will be my triumph when I shall have corrected what Nature left imperfect in her fairest work!”

Georgiana is Aylmer’s wife and the bearer of the titular birthmark. Her character is crucial to understanding the story’s themes:

• Symbol of natural beauty: Georgiana represents nature’s beauty, which includes both perfection and imperfection.
• Victim of societal standards: She internalizes Aylmer’s obsession with her birthmark, showing how societal standards of beauty can affect self-perception.
• Loyalty and love: Georgiana’s willingness to risk her life to please Aylmer demonstrates her deep love and loyalty.
• Inner conflict: She struggles between accepting herself and wanting to meet her husband’s expectations.
• Tragic figure: Georgiana’s death symbolizes the destruction of natural beauty in the pursuit of artificial perfection.

Example: Georgiana’s inner conflict is clear when she says, “Life is but a sad possession to those who have attained precisely the degree of moral advancement at which I stand. Were I weaker and blinder, it might be happiness. Were I stronger, it might be endured hopefully. But, being what I find myself, methinks I am of all mortals the most fit to die.”

Though a minor character, Aminadab plays a significant role in the story:

• Contrast to Aylmer: Aminadab represents the earthly and physical, in contrast to Aylmer’s intellectual and spiritual pursuits.
• Voice of reason: His laughter and comments often serve as a warning or critique of Aylmer’s actions.
• Symbol of nature: Aminadab’s earthy nature and connection to the physical world contrast with Aylmer’s attempts to transcend nature.

Example: Hawthorne describes Aminadab as “a man of low stature, but bulky frame, with shaggy hair hanging about his visage, which was grimed with the vapors of the furnace.”

Themes and Symbolism

The pursuit of perfection.

One of the central themes in “The Birthmark” is the dangerous obsession with perfection:

• Unattainable ideal: The story suggests that human perfection is an unattainable goal.
• Destructive pursuit: Aylmer’s quest for perfection ultimately destroys the very thing he sought to perfect.
• Nature vs. artifice: The conflict between natural beauty (represented by Georgiana) and artificial perfection (Aylmer’s goal) is a key theme.
• Societal standards: The story critiques societal standards of beauty and perfection that can be harmful and unrealistic.

Example: The destructive nature of this pursuit is evident in the story’s tragic ending, where Georgiana dies as her “imperfection” is removed.

Science vs. Nature

Another major theme is the conflict between scientific progress and the natural world:

• Limits of science: The story questions the limits of scientific knowledge and human ability to control nature.
• Ethical considerations: It raises ethical questions about the use of science to alter natural phenomena.
• Hubris of scientists: Aylmer’s downfall serves as a cautionary tale about scientific hubris.
• Balance: The story suggests the need for balance between scientific progress and respect for natural processes.

Example: Aylmer’s laboratory, described as a place where “the most splendid successes have been achieved,” becomes the site of his greatest failure, highlighting the limits of scientific control over nature.

The Nature of Humanity

“The Birthmark” also delves into what it means to be human:

• Imperfection as human: The story suggests that imperfections are an integral part of being human.
• Mortality: Georgiana’s death after the removal of her birthmark implies that mortality is tied to our imperfections.
• Acceptance: The tale emphasizes the importance of accepting oneself and others, flaws and all.
• Love and superficiality: It questions the nature of love and whether it should be conditional on physical perfection.

Example: When Georgiana says, “If there be the remotest possibility of it, let the attempt be made at whatever risk,” she shows a tragic willingness to risk her humanity for an ideal of perfection.

Symbolism of the Birthmark

The birthmark itself is rich in symbolism:

• Human imperfection: It represents the flaws inherent in all humans.
• Mortality: Its hand shape suggests the hand of death, foreshadowing Georgiana’s fate.
• Connection to nature: The birthmark’s crimson color ties it to life and nature.
• Individuality: It makes Georgiana unique, suggesting that our “flaws” are part of our identity.
• Gender dynamics: Its presence on a woman’s face can be read as a commentary on societal beauty standards for women.

Example: Hawthorne describes the birthmark as “the visible mark of earthly imperfection,” directly stating its symbolic significance.

Literary Techniques

Hawthorne employs various literary techniques to enhance the story’s impact:

Foreshadowing

Throughout the story, Hawthorne drops hints about the tragic ending:

• Aylmer’s dream of cutting out Georgiana’s heart to remove the birthmark.
• The descriptions of the birthmark deepening in color when Georgiana blushes, linking it to her life force.
• The failure of Aylmer’s previous experiments, hinting at the danger of his pursuits.

Example: “With the morning twilight Aylmer opened his eyes upon his wife’s face and recognized the symbol of imperfection; and when they sat together at the evening hearth his eyes wandered stealthily to her cheek, and beheld, flickering with the blaze of the wood fire, the spectral hand that wrote mortality where he would fain have worshipped.”

Hawthorne uses vivid imagery to create a mood and convey deeper meanings:

• The laboratory is described in terms that make it seem otherworldly and slightly sinister.
• The birthmark is repeatedly described in ways that emphasize its connection to Georgiana’s life and humanity.
• Contrasts between light and dark, earthly and spiritual, are used throughout the story.

Example: “The scene around her was like enchantment. Aylmer had converted those smoky, dingy, sombre rooms, where he had spent his brightest years in recondite pursuits, into a series of beautiful apartments not unfit to be the secluded abode of a lovely woman.”

The entire story can be read as an allegory for larger themes:

• The dangers of playing God or trying to perfect nature.
• The conflict between science and nature.
• The destructive power of obsession and the inability to accept imperfection.

Example: Aylmer’s pursuit of removing the birthmark can be seen as an allegory for humanity’s broader attempts to control and perfect nature through science.

Irony plays a significant role in the story:

• Situational irony: Aylmer’s attempt to perfect Georgiana leads to her death.
• Dramatic irony: The reader often understands the danger of Aylmer’s actions before the characters do.
• Verbal irony: Some of Aylmer’s statements about his abilities contrast sharply with the reality of the situation.

Example: The ultimate irony of the story is that in removing Georgiana’s only “imperfection,” Aylmer destroys her completely.

Historical and Cultural Context

Understanding the historical and cultural context of “The Birthmark” can provide deeper insights into its themes and messages:

Scientific Progress in the 19th Century

• Rapid advancements: The 19th century saw significant scientific progress, which both excited and frightened people.
• Ethical concerns: As science advanced, questions arose about the ethical implications of new discoveries and technologies.
• Changing worldviews: Scientific discoveries were challenging traditional religious and philosophical views.

Example: Aylmer’s confidence in science reflects the optimism of the time, while the story’s outcome reflects anxieties about the limits and dangers of scientific progress.

Transcendentalism

Hawthorne was writing in the context of the Transcendentalist movement in America:

• Nature and spirituality: Transcendentalists emphasized the importance of nature and individual intuition.
• Critique of materialism: They were critical of excessive focus on material progress at the expense of spiritual growth.
• Perfection and self-reliance: The movement emphasized the potential for human perfection through self-reliance.

Example: While not a Transcendentalist himself, Hawthorne engages with these ideas in “The Birthmark,” particularly in his portrayal of nature and the consequences of attempting to perfect it.

Gender Roles in 19th Century America

The story reflects and comments on gender roles of its time:

• Women as objects of beauty: Georgiana’s value seems to be primarily in her beauty, reflecting societal attitudes.
• Male dominance: Aylmer’s control over Georgiana reflects the patriarchal nature of 19th-century society.
• Critique of these norms: The tragic ending can be read as a critique of these gender dynamics.

Example: Georgiana’s willingness to risk her life to meet Aylmer’s standards of beauty reflects the intense pressure on women to conform to societal beauty standards.

Comparative Analysis

Comparing “The Birthmark” to other works can provide additional insights:

Comparison with Other Hawthorne Works

• “Rappaccini’s Daughter”: Both stories deal with scientists whose pursuits lead to tragedy.
• “The Scarlet Letter”: Both works explore themes of human imperfection and societal judgment.

Example: Like Aylmer, Rappaccini in “Rappaccini’s Daughter” is a scientist whose experiments have tragic consequences for a young woman.

Comparison with Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”

• Scientific hubris: Both stories warn against the dangers of scientific overreach.
• Playing God: Both feature protagonists who attempt to surpass the limits of nature.
• Tragic consequences: In both stories, the pursuit of scientific achievement leads to destruction.

Example: Victor Frankenstein, like Aylmer, is driven by scientific ambition to create perfection, with disastrous results.

Comparison with Edgar Allan Poe’s Works

• Obsession: Like many of Poe’s protagonists, Aylmer is driven by obsession.
• Gothic elements: Both authors use elements of the Gothic to create atmosphere and tension.

Example: Aylmer’s obsession with the birthmark is reminiscent of the narrator’s obsession with the old man’s eye in Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart.”

Critical Reception and Interpretations

“The Birthmark” has been widely analyzed and interpreted since its publication:

Feminist Interpretations

• Critique of beauty standards: Many feminist critics see the story as a critique of impossible beauty standards imposed on women.
• Male control over female bodies: Aylmer’s desire to change Georgiana’s appearance is seen as representing broader issues of male control over women’s bodies.

Example: Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar, in their book “The Madwoman in the Attic,” discuss how the story reflects 19th-century attitudes toward women and female beauty.

Scientific Ethics

• Limitations of science: Many interpret the story as a warning about the limitations and potential dangers of scientific progress.
• Ethics in scientific pursuit: The story raises questions about the ethics of scientific experimentation and the pursuit of knowledge at any cost.

Example: In his book “Hawthorne’s Fuller Mystery,” Thomas R. Mitchell discusses how the story reflects 19th-century anxieties about scientific progress.

Psychological Interpretations

• Obsession and perfectionism: Some critics focus on the psychological aspects of Aylmer’s obsession and need for perfection.
• Projection of inner flaws: Others suggest that Aylmer’s fixation on Georgiana’s birthmark is a projection of his own inner flaws.

Example: Frederick Crews, in “The Sins of the Fathers: Hawthorne’s Psychological Themes,” provides a psychological analysis of Aylmer’s motivations and actions.

Relevance Today

Despite being written in the 19th century, “The Birthmark” remains relevant today:

• Beauty standards: The story’s critique of unrealistic beauty standards resonates in our image-obsessed culture.
• Scientific ethics: As we grapple with issues like genetic engineering and AI, the story’s questions about the limits of science remain pertinent.
• Acceptance of imperfection: In a world that often demands perfection, the story’s message about accepting human flaws is still powerful.
• Gender dynamics: The story’s exploration of male control over female bodies continues to be a significant issue.

Example: The rise of social media and photo editing technology has created new pressures to appear “perfect,” making Georgiana’s struggle with her perceived flaw feel very modern.

Related Articles

Aylmer’s Motivation in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Birthmark”

• Q: What does the birthmark symbolize in the story? A: The birthmark symbolizes human imperfection, mortality, and the connection to nature. It represents the flaws that make us human and individual.
• Q: Why does Aylmer want to remove the birthmark? A: Aylmer sees the birthmark as a flaw in Georgiana’s otherwise perfect beauty. His desire to remove it stems from his obsession with perfection and his belief in science’s ability to improve upon nature.
• Q: What is the significance of Aminadab in the story? A: Aminadab serves as a contrast to Aylmer, representing the earthly and physical aspects of life. His reactions often serve as a warning or critique of Aylmer’s actions.
• Q: How does the story critique scientific progress? A: The story suggests that scientific progress, when taken to extremes, can be dangerous. It warns against the hubris of thinking science can perfect nature and questions the ethics of certain scientific pursuits.
• Q: What is the moral of “The Birthmark”? A: The story has multiple morals, including the dangers of obsessing over perfection, the importance of accepting human flaws, and the potential dangers of unchecked scientific ambition.
• Q: How does the story reflect 19th-century attitudes toward women? A: The story reflects and critiques 19th-century attitudes that valued women primarily for their beauty and placed them under male control. Georgiana’s willingness to risk her life to meet Aylmer’s standards of beauty highlights the intense pressures women faced

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Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Birthmark” Short Story Essay

Introduction, the brief basic plot of the story, works cited.

During Nathaniel Hawthorne’s lifetime, there was a tremendous advancement in science and technology. People began believing that all of life’s unanswered questions would soon be answered in the laboratories of the scientists if they would just have the patience to wait long enough. It was felt that with just a little time, all the evils of society would be ironed out and all imperfections would be cured. These are the issues examined in Hawthorne’s short story “The Birthmark.”

The story is essentially the story of a scientific man who cannot stand a small birthmark visible on his wife’s cheek and which she agrees to attempt to remove in a process that eventually kills her. In this story, Hawthorne illustrates through the symbolism of the birthmark science’s approach toward ‘perfecting’ society, society’s acceptance of this approach and the true nature of this type of imperfection.

Hawthorne uses the symbol of the birthmark as a way of illustrating science’s approach to the aberrations of nature as a problem that needs to be fixed. Aylmer’s wife Georgiana has a tiny hand-shaped birthmark on her face that shows most clearly when she is pale and upset and tends not to show at all when she is happy and rosy. As Hawthorne points out, there were generally two approaches taken toward this small defect in her otherwise perfect face. “Georgiana’s lovers were wont to say that some fairy at her birth hour had laid her tiny hand upon the infant’s cheek, and left this impress there in token of the magic endowments that were to give her such sway over all hearts.”

On the other hand, “some fastidious persons – but they were exclusively of her own sex – affirmed that the bloody hand, as they chose to call it, quite destroyed the effect of Georgiana’s beauty, and rendered her countenance even hideous.” This was the approach taken by Aylmer to such a degree that his only consideration of it was to find a means of removing it, regardless of the dangers this process might present to his lovely wife’s ultimate health or future. Aylmer feels the wife of a scientist as prestigious as himself should be absolutely free of any perfections nature might have bestowed upon her. Because he is unable to accept her ‘imperfections’ as signs that she is a natural and very human woman, he is unable to enjoy the life of happiness the couple should have otherwise enjoyed.

It is through the actions of Georgiana that the attitudes of society toward science are reflected in this short story. When Aylmer first suggests that Georgiana could have the birthmark surgically removed, she is shocked and reluctant to even consider the possibilities. “To tell you the truth it has been so often called a charm that I was simple enough to imagine it might be so,” she tells him. However, his continued horror at the sight of the mark works on her spirit as does the continued calls of science, shocked and dismayed at the rest of society’s reluctance to experiment where it is perceived only God should go, work on society itself.

Finally, Georgiana gives in to Aylmer’s suggestion, passively agreeing to participate in whatever form of experiment he might choose to present to her and asking few, if any, questions as to what he’s been doing. “Georgiana began to conjecture that she was already subjected to certain physical influences, either breathed in with the fragrant air or taken with her food.” Finally, when she finally perceives the danger involved in the experiment, she confronts Aylmer with a desire for more knowledge, but when he refuses to give her any details, she readily agrees to do whatever is asked of her again.

Finally, Hawthorne illustrates that not all natural imperfection is necessarily something evil that must be cured by science as the fading of the birthmark results in the death of the lady. Its shape and the suggestion that it is the loving result of a fairy touch indicate that the birthmark has some sort of spiritual connection to the lady.

This is emphasized in Aylmer’s dream: “He had fancied himself with his servant Aminadab, attempting an operation for the removal of the birthmark; but the deeper went the knife, the deeper sank the hand, until at length its tiny grasp appeared to have caught hold of Georgiana’s heart; whence, however, her husband was inexorably resolved to cut or wrench it away.” This foreshadows the destructive task he has embraced as well as the purity and tenderness externally represented in the form of the mark.

The essential nature of the mark to the lady’s person is again brought forward when Aylmer finally comes partially clean to Georgiana, just before administering the final draught: “Know, then, that this crimson hand, superficial as it seems, has clutched its grasp into your being with a strength of which I had no previous conception. I have already administered agents powerful enough to do aught except to change your entire physical system.” When he does give her the drink to change her system, she is perfected and can no longer remain on earth in human form.

Through this short story, which sees very little in the way of actual action, Hawthorne is able to criticize the aims of science and to question its relative merits. Through the symbolism of the birthmark and its wearer, Hawthorne manages to illustrate how science remains fixated on fixing things that may not need to be fixed or that should be appreciated for their own intrinsic value. By focusing on the behavior of the wearer of the birthmark, and thus its guardian and protector, Hawthorne demonstrates the less than ideal reaction of the public toward the more outlandish scientific ideas as well as illustrates how the public is eventually won over to these ideas.

Finally, by showing his readers that the birthmark is valuable in protecting the life of this lady, that it is a necessary part of her humanity, Hawthorne indicates how science has the power to destroy something special and irreplaceable without bringing any benefit to mankind in its place.

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. “The Birthmark.”

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The Birthmark

Nathaniel hawthorne.

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Birthmark . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

The Birthmark: Introduction

The birthmark: plot summary, the birthmark: detailed summary & analysis, the birthmark: themes, the birthmark: quotes, the birthmark: characters, the birthmark: symbols, the birthmark: literary devices, the birthmark: theme wheel, brief biography of nathaniel hawthorne.

Historical Context of The Birthmark

Other books related to the birthmark.

• Full Title: The Birthmark
• Where Written: Massachusetts
• When Published: 1843 and 1846
• Literary Period: Romanticism, the American Renaissance
• Genre: short story
• Setting: late eighteenth century, possibly in Europe
• Climax: the disappearance of the birthmark, coinciding with Georgiana’s death
• Antagonist: mortality, nature
• Point of View: third person

Extra Credit for The Birthmark

Friendship through vegetables. When Hawthorne and his wife moved into their house, the Old Manse, in Concord, Massachusetts, transcendentalist writer Henry David Thoreau planted a vegetable garden for them.

Digging up bodies. Hawthorne’s wife and daughter were buried in London for 129 years, until 2006, when their bodies were dug up and moved to Massachusetts to rest beside Hawthorne’s own.

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The Birth-Mark

By nathaniel hawthorne, the birth-mark study guide.

" The Birth-Mark " is one of Nathaniel Hawthorne ’s most revered and gripping short stories. Published in the March 1843 edition of The Pioneer , the story examines human sin, evokes the perils of overweening ambition, and theorizes about gender inequality.

"The Birth-Mark" centers on the marriage between a brilliant yet misguided scientist, Aylmer, and the beautiful Georgiana. Aylmer begins to resent the tiny, hand-shaped birthmark on Georgiana’s cheek, as he views it as a symbol of universal human imperfection. As Aylmer's repulsion and obsession with the birthmark grows, Georgiana begins to devolve into a mere subject of one of Aylmer's dangerous experiments. The simple premise progresses into a bleak, moralistic reflection on the dangers of relying on science to change human nature.

Best-known as the author of The Scarlet Letter , Hawthorne spent his career employing the themes and concerns associated with dark romanticism, which explores human fallibility, sin, melancholia, and irrational egos. While Hawthorne never explicitly commented on the inspiration for “The Birth-Mark,” the short story was likely influenced by the ideological concerns of Hawthorne’s time. In the early to mid-19th century, religious doctrine and practices become less omnipresent in everyday life, and science was increasing in popularity. The scientific revolution coincided with a glorification of rationality and the scientific method—a point of view exemplified by Aylmer, who believes he can use his researches to “fix” human flaws. Hawthorne uses Aylmer’s obsessions and failed experiments as a vehicle to illustrate science’s inability to explain and solve the mysteries of Nature’s creations.

Upon its release, “The Birth-Mark” did not receive the same amount of critical attention as, say, The Scarlet Letter . However, over time, it has become one of Hawthorne’s most well-known and respected short stories. Also, from Judith Fetterley’s feminist analysis of the text to Robert B. Heilman’s theory that Aylmer apotheosizes science, the story also has garnered the attention of many academics.

The Birth-Mark Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Birth-Mark is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

How is the conflict between Georgiana and Aylmer resolved over the course of the text

Like most of his inquiries, Aylmer’s quest to perfect Georgiana ultimately fails. His solution erases the mark, but Georgiana dies as a result—without her birthmark, she is too much of an ideal being to occupy earth. Through the failed experiment,...

the birthmark

I don't think their ages are ever stated. I might guess that Aylmer is middle age and Georgiana is much younger than him.

You can check out the characteres below:

https://www.gradesaver.com/the-birth-mark/study-guide/character-list

Study Guide for The Birth-Mark

The Birth-Mark study guide contains a biography of Nathaniel Hawthorne, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Birth-Mark
• The Birth-Mark Summary
• Character List

Essays for The Birth-Mark

The Birth-Mark essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Birth-Mark by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

• Alchemy and Morality in ‘Rappaccini’s Daughter’ and ‘The Birthmark’?
• Fragility of the Intellectual Male Psyche and Permanence of Humanity In The Birth-Mark
• What is Happiness Worth?: "The Birthmark" and "Wakefield"
• Beauty, Horror and Morality in Hawthorne's "The Birth-Mark"
• Science turns into Catastrophe

Wikipedia Entries for The Birth-Mark

• Introduction

The Birthmark

32 pages • 1 hour read

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Character Analysis

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Essay Topics

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Analysis: “The Birthmark”

“The Birthmark” was published during a time of change and innovation in British and American literature. While gothic fiction was still in existence in the 1840s, new elements characteristic of the genre now called “science fiction” or “speculative fiction” were creeping into literature during this age of scientific advancement. At this time, gothic horror’s concentration on omens and portents shifted to a focus on scientific discoveries and laboratory instruments. At its core, though, the questions that informed the plot lines and themes remained similar: What does it mean to be human? What are the limits of mankind’s power? As well, the authors of horror and science fiction share a fundamental interest in the same subject: someone (or something) usurping the act of creation from God and/or nature. “The Birthmark” is above all concerned with the evil humans can commit with creative power in the name of science. While science grants Aylmer access to this power, without a proper moral compass and a true knowledge of himself, he wields it selfishly and destructively. As such, “The Birthmark” has a strongly moralizing message against this type of behavior.

“The Birthmark” also represents an important work of dark Romanticism . A literary and artistic movement of the late 1700s and early 1800s, Romanticism reacted against the Age of Enlightenment, prioritizing the interior, emotional life over the rational workings of the mind and ideas that were scientifically provable. As well, the Romantics honored nature as the supreme force, believing that no matter how ambitious a person’s scientific pursuits might be, nature will always overcome. Gothic elements often overlap with Romantic elements; for example, when Aylmer’s ambition results in the death of his wife, the reader is able to understand that nature has punished him for toying with Georgiana’s natural and flawed beauty. Aylmer’s tampering with his wife’s physical appearance, the one bestowed upon her by nature, leads directly to the tragedy of her death. For the Romantics, Aylmer would have been better served in examining himself and the reasons for his needs and desires, rather than turning his attention outward to the exterior world. As a result, “The Birthmark” is a pastiche of genres: it can be read and interpreted as a work of gothic fiction, romance fiction, proto-science fiction, and moralizing tale, all at the same time.

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Both Aylmer and his wife Georgiana experience deep emotion that typifies Romantic literature, but Hawthorne’s interpretation of their emotional lives is a departure from Romanticism in two important ways. Aylmer, is a doctor whose passion for and obsession with the scientific process and “natural philosophy” does not reflect his actual skill and talent for scientific work. Though Aylmer’s primary emotional attachment is to his work, he does marry; however, his marriage feels fulfilling to him only when he is able to involve his wife in his work. While Aylmer’s deep emotional attachment to his work makes a mockery of the emotional depth encouraged by the Romantics, Georgiana’s obsessive love for her husband warns readers about the dangers of such deep emotion.

Thanks to Georgiana’s love for her husband, she agrees to allow Aylmer to experiment on her in order to remove her birthmark, giving Aylmer the opportunity to meld his love of science and his wife. When the setting of the story shifts to his laboratory, the story employs more psychological elements and symbolism . This shift marks a typical feature of the genre, called a “tale,” which Hawthorne helped to codify. Resembling a parable or a sketch, the tale takes place in “a neutral territory, somewhere between the real world and fairy-land, where the Actual and the Imaginary may meet, and each imbue itself with the nature of the other.” (Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. Florence, Italy: Giunti Editore S.p.A, 2001, page 38)

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When Aylmer finally produces an elixir that will remove Georgiana’s birthmark , Aylmer and Georgiana share a kind of fevered religious ecstasy over her consumption of the potion. Georgiana has united with Aylmer in their hatred of her physical flaw, and only Aylmer’s servant, Aminadab , recognizes that Georgiana does not require improvement. Ironically, Aylmer dismisses Aminadab as an uncouth and beast-like individual, but Aminadab possesses more humanity than Aylmer. A personification of mankind’s physicality and connection to the earth, Aminadab will have the last laugh. While Aylmer and Georgiana “succeed” in elevating Georgiana’s physical beauty, they also eradicate her humanity and take her life in the process. Aylmer’s greatest success is also his greatest failure.

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