Birthmark - Short Analysis

Janie White

Prof. F. Hasanat

ENC 1102

February 10, 2016

The Birthmark

In the short story “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, he provides an inside story of a man who shares an obsession with removing a birthmark from his wife’s cheek. What could have turned out in a sweet courtship somewhat turns into a nightmare because of his crazy obsession? Aylmer was a scientist and believed that science could fix anything including his wife’s imperfection, he was very determined to fix her. The narrator uses the third person narration of the story in order to access both Aylmer and Georgiana’s thoughts. Georgiana’s birthmark symbolizes death and in the world we reside in, every living thing is made and flawed in its own special way; however, we are strongly reminded of nature that every living thing dies eventually.

The theme was carefully selected and was evidently consistent throughout the entire story, we learn “Imperfection” as a theme was implied in multiple ways. Imperfection was first was introduced when the author informs us about a birthmark on the cheek of Aylmer’s wife, Georgiana. Aylmer was obsessed with the birthmark and thought that his wife would be perfect without it and complained quite often about its appearance. One night he remarked saying: “Georgina, has it never occurred to you that the mark upon your cheek might be removed? “(5). Georgina responded saying that it never occurred to her and in addition, she clearly states that a lot of times the mark was view as a charm to others and because of that she never thought about removing it. For Georgina’s disappointment Aylmer replies that it could be a charm in another person’s face, but not on hers and he still says that this mark is an “earthly imperfection”.  Her birthmark was very tiny and resembled a little hand and when she blushed, it gradually became more indistinct.