In Aylmer's quest to get rid of his wife's birthmark in the short story "The Birthmark", Aylmer destroys his wife, Georgina. By examining the characterization, setting, and themes the reader can understand the underlying meanings of Aylmer’s quest in "The Birthmark". The environment and ancestry of Nathaniel Hawthorne are vital to understanding the shaping of the creation of “The Birthmark” however, the literary elements in this fictional short story are the greatest strength of the short story.
An author is extremely affected by the environment he or she develops in and their ancestry. Nathaniel Hawthorne lived in Salem, Massachusetts which is a town full of rich, engaging history. Salem, Massachusetts is a town most infamously known for …show more content…
The setting of “The Birthmark” is a key to the insight into in Aylmers hatred of the birthmark on his wife’s cheek. As the couple sits together late one evening the lighting is described as to have "hardly to betray the strain" (Hawthorne 7) of the birthmark on Albert's "poor wife's cheek"(Hawthorne 7). This setting brings out the underlying tension Albert has for the birthmark by emphasizing his wanting of the birthmark to be hidden anyway possible. In comparison, the setting of a different scene highlights Aylmer's love towards Georgiana. Aylmer is a devoted scientist, but when he meets Georgiana everything changes. He turned a majority of his laboratory where he "made discoveries in the elements of nature"(Hawthorne 9), into "a series of beautiful apartments" filled with "enchantment" (Hawthorne 10). Aylmer hung "gorgeous curtains" (Hawthorne 10) and filled the room "with piercing and invigorating delight"(Hawthorne 13). This scene highlights his love for by revealing what Aylmer would do for his wife's comfort. Although Aylmer is deeply in love with his wife, he is still devoted to science. When Georgina intrudes into the parts of his apartments that are still his laboratory she sees a "the intense glow of the fire", "tubes, cylinders, crucibles, and other apparatus of chemical reactions," and a "hot and feverish worker" (Hawthorne 15). This description reveals that even though he has given up parts of his scientific career for his wife, he is still pursuing his
An author is extremely affected by the environment he or she develops in and their ancestry. Nathaniel Hawthorne lived in Salem, Massachusetts which is a town full of rich, engaging history. Salem, Massachusetts is a town most infamously known for …show more content…
The setting of “The Birthmark” is a key to the insight into in Aylmers hatred of the birthmark on his wife’s cheek. As the couple sits together late one evening the lighting is described as to have "hardly to betray the strain" (Hawthorne 7) of the birthmark on Albert's "poor wife's cheek"(Hawthorne 7). This setting brings out the underlying tension Albert has for the birthmark by emphasizing his wanting of the birthmark to be hidden anyway possible. In comparison, the setting of a different scene highlights Aylmer's love towards Georgiana. Aylmer is a devoted scientist, but when he meets Georgiana everything changes. He turned a majority of his laboratory where he "made discoveries in the elements of nature"(Hawthorne 9), into "a series of beautiful apartments" filled with "enchantment" (Hawthorne 10). Aylmer hung "gorgeous curtains" (Hawthorne 10) and filled the room "with piercing and invigorating delight"(Hawthorne 13). This scene highlights his love for by revealing what Aylmer would do for his wife's comfort. Although Aylmer is deeply in love with his wife, he is still devoted to science. When Georgina intrudes into the parts of his apartments that are still his laboratory she sees a "the intense glow of the fire", "tubes, cylinders, crucibles, and other apparatus of chemical reactions," and a "hot and feverish worker" (Hawthorne 15). This description reveals that even though he has given up parts of his scientific career for his wife, he is still pursuing his