Theme of the birthmark by nathaniel hawthorne. The Theme Of Perfection In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Birthmark 2022-10-18
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In Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story "The Birthmark," the theme revolves around the dangerous pursuit of perfection and the destructive nature of obsessive love.
The main character, Aylmer, is a scientist who is obsessed with removing a small birthmark from his wife's cheek, believing it to be a flaw that detracts from her otherwise perfect beauty. Aylmer's pursuit of perfection ultimately leads to the tragic demise of his wife, Georgiana, as he uses dangerous and untested methods to try to remove the birthmark.
Throughout the story, Hawthorne uses the birthmark as a symbol for the imperfections that are inherent in all human beings. Despite Aylmer's attempts to remove it, the birthmark remains a constant reminder of Georgiana's humanity and the fact that no one can ever be truly perfect.
The theme of the destructive nature of obsessive love is also prominent in the story. Aylmer's love for Georgiana becomes all-consuming, and he is willing to risk her life in order to achieve his own ideal of perfection. This demonstrates the dangers of allowing one's love to become all-consuming and blinding, as it can lead to harm and destruction.
In conclusion, the theme of "The Birthmark" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is the dangerous pursuit of perfection and the destructive nature of obsessive love. Through the character of Aylmer and his obsession with removing Georgiana's birthmark, Hawthorne highlights the dangers of attempting to achieve an impossible standard of perfection and the consequences that can arise when love becomes all-consuming.
The Theme Of Perfection In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Birthmark
It is an entirely natural occurrence, and the narrator implies that the mark exists for a reason — to keep Georgiana imperfect enough to remain… The narrator describes Georgiana as perfect in every way except for the birthmark on her cheek. Like Aylmer, he regards the mark as a blemish; he simply sees it as a blemish, which implies her true perfection. When Aylmer mentions it to her she was hurt but it did not seem to affect her self image. Hawthorne uses the device of foreshadowing to show how aiming for perfection results in an outcome that one does not expect. Hawthorne shows these Romantic ideals in his short story 'The Birthmark' by focusing on obsessive love and the conflict between nature and science. A natural philosopher named Aylmer, fixated on science and alchemy, temporarily halts his addiction to experimentation and marries a young woman named Georgiana. Aylmer compares his wife Georgianas birthmark to sin.
Theme of Perfection in The Birthmark by Nathaniel Hawthorne Literary Analysis Essay
With the assistance of The Theme Of Perfection In The Birthmark, By Nathaniel Hawthorne In The Birthmark, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the scientist, Aylmer, strives for perfection. There are some areas where science should not dabble. She also hints that there might be some connection between the birthmark and her life. Sexual Selection in Relation to Man. What were they rebelling against? Science at that time was unexplainable and mysterious to the common person which lead to it being referred to as magic. There are many literary devices that writers incorporate into their works. Illustrate instances of each theme and write a short description below each cell.
Aylmer becomes so obsessed with making Georgiana absolutely perfect that her one supposed imperfection comes to blind him to everything else good about her. The Subjection of Women. By nature the human race is full of flaws, some appearing as early as in the womb. Most of the time she avoided the subject, but she brings it up one night after Aylmer had been speaking in his sleep about the mark on her cheek. Surveys have shown that these patients experience considerable psychological morbidity, including anxiety, depression, guilt, and embarrassment that does not resolve over time. It grows in his mind until the very sight of the beautiful Georgiana repulses him, a ludicrous turn of events.
In literature, authors use a variety of techniques to make their themes clear. Georgiana, on the other hand, loves him more than she loves herself. By surgically removing Georgiana of her imperfection, Aylmer also removes her of her humanity. Compare And Contrast Rappaccini's Daughter And The Birthmark 743 Words 3 Pages Equally Aylmer and Dr. A good storyline captures all of our senses, these devices draw the reader in, paint a picture, heighten the senses, and pull at us emotionally. Aylmer is a "man of science," and he sets to work trying to make a concoction that will get rid of the birthmark.
Theme Of Perfection In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Birthmark
Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote about an Italian scientist named Guiseppe Rappaccini who creates poisonous plants that are used to cure disease, but instead poisons people. Carroll Literature 2326 5 October 2014 Different Hues of Darkness At first glance, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Edgar Allen Poe may appear as though they are two birds of a feather. Extending from the mid to late nineteenth century, a great number of essayists, dramatists, authors, and impressionists contributed to the overall advancement of literature as a whole before leading up to the Transcendental movement that Hawthorne chose to break apart from. Aylmer a renowned scientist of his time has taken it upon himself to marry a woman of great perfection and beauty. However, what could have been a sweet love story turns into a nightmare as Aylmer becomes obsessed with removing a small birthmark on Georgiana's cheek. We fall, rise, and learn.
Georgiana wants to please her husband. In the example storyboard above, the creator has focused on Hawthorne's use of Puritan ideology through symbols and themes in "The Birthmark". In fact, he only spends time with Georgiana when he's studying her and her birthmark in his laboratory. The birthmark heloed keep her spirit attached to herself. Instead Aylmer focused and obsessed over the negative things in life. Especially considering her previous boyfriends had told her that the birthmark added to her charm.
The allusion is that Alymer looks at Georgian as being almost perfect, without the birthmark she would be the epitome of Godly perfection. Georgiana is obviously upset by his comments. One of the themes that is common in Hawthorne's work is the sinful nature and impurity that is at the heart of each person. The use of foreshadowing and strange amount of predictability in this short story are what set it apart from others and is what grabbed my attention. Nathaniel began writing The Birthmark after he visited Exeter, New Hampshire with Nathaniel Hathorne friends including Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
The Theme Of Religious Themes In The Birthmark By...
Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote The Birthmark in 1843 when Nathaniel lived in Salem, Massachusetts with his family including his mother who died on March 26, 1849 at the age of 72 of tuberculosis lung disease. Georgiana is Aylmer's wife. Nathaniel Hathorne wrote A Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys in 1851 when Nathaniel lived in Salem, Massachusetts with Nathaniel Hathorne family members including Elizabeth Peabody who was his sister who died of tuberculosis at the age of forty-two on March 9, 1846. However, their inspirations originate from opposite ends of the spectrum. Fatality In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Birthmark 946 Words 4 Pages A character having an ability to be an influence of fatality is a dangerously powerful trait to have. People have complimented it and criticized it, but it is a natural part of her. The men in her past found her beautiful and found her imperfection worth dying for.
His desire for perfection can only result in death for Georgiana because becoming an ideal, perfect being means she cannot exist in this world. Symbolism In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Birthmark Men and women will always strive for perfection whether it is in themselves or in each other. She tells him she will drink poison, if it comes to it, rather than live with her birthmark. He kept cutting and cutting until he cut through her heart to completely remove the birthmark. Shaped like a tiny hand, the birthmark has a grip on Georgiana's life force. The mark starts to disappear, but Georgiana's face seems pale. .
