The Conflict Between Aylmer And Georgiana In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Birthmark

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Birthmark, is a short story from the gothic genre. Typically gothic short stories take place within the home and the conflict is mainly around family members. The Birthmark is no different the conflict is between Aylmer and Georgiana who are husband and wife. Georgiana is a beautiful, intelligent woman who is also a wife to Aylmer. Aylmer is hard working scientist who is always in his laboratory desperately trying to perfect his craft. Although, they may seem like a wonderful couple there is one flaw that Aylmer is obsessing over and it proves to be the downfall to their marriage. Georgiana has a birthmark on her cheek that is shaped as a hand, although it may seem trivial to Aylmer this birthmark represents much more. …show more content…
Aylmer represents science and everything that deals with overcoming the natural world and life. Georgiana’s birthmark represents everything that Aylmer wants to overcome so the birthmark becomes a challenge. Aylmer’s objective is to get rid of the birthmark and if he was successful that in turn would mean he is able to overcome nature. All of Aylmer’s work would be nothing compared to getting rid of the birthmark. In some ways Aylmer fears the power of nature and the fact that he has absolutely no control over anything. According to Freud’s The Uncanny Aylmer is actually repressing many of his actual fears. Aylmer is terrified of nature and possibly the fact that he is unable to control Georgiana. Moreover, Georgiana represents nature and her birthmark is the perfect example of how every human is unique and that no one has control full control of how they look or how tall they grow to be. Science is very important to the development of the human species; however, science may never be able to surpass nature. Scientists such as Aylmer are innovators, but not everything that one sets their mind to is attainable and that is Aylmer’s ultimate