“In the latter part of the last century there lived a man of science, an eminent proficient in every branch of natural philosophy, who not long before our story opens had made experience of a spiritual affinity more attractive than any chemical one” (Hawthorne 3). This story is “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The short story is about finding out how to balance Aylmer’s love of science with the love of his life, his wife. Our main character, Aylmer is consumed with the influence of science, but he soon becomes so obsessed with the “crimson hand” on Georgiana’s face (Hawthorne 5). The birthmark symbolizes the loss of perfection in human nature or the eye of success. Therefore making the conflict man versus man, all the while, having
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For Aylmer, his hubris or lack of insight is due to pride in his abilities (Wheeler 2). Aylmer became the major tragic flaws because he is too caught up in the physical flaw, which he doesn’t see the real beauty in Georgina, and by trying to fix the flaw he ends up killing her, though he does not realize he has done something wrong until it was too late to be reversed (Diorio 4). This secondary conflict later arose with God when Aylmer aimed to remove the birthmark on Georgiana’s face to make her be perfect for all that saw her and more (Stephanie 5). The conflicts arose also because Aylmer believed that he needed to only get rid of the birthmark to become happy. Because it was not only a hideous imperfection on her face, but it is a symbol for everything they hold dear to them. This conflict of classification is the very soul of Aylmer and Georgiana’s love for each other (Stephanie 4). Aylmer was used to seeing the world, not as a miracle or wonder, but as a code waiting to be cracked, and he cannot see Georgiana’s birthmark in any positive way. It mocked him because he is a scientist and she is his wife; he thought he was able to make her absolutely flawless (Diorio 3). Aylmer tries to remove the birthmark, can be assumed that it will bring Georgiana to her death (Stephanie 2). Therefore, …show more content…
Unaware, in a sense, she is doomed; she does not deliberately express it until the end of the story as she is “Vidal” and is dying. Hawthorne gives hints throughout the story that she is unaware of it. Having the birthmark was noticed as being a fatal flaw, can be used as foreshadowing tool that will take her life (Stephanie 1). Georgiana fails to realize that her worth does not depend on her appearance. Instead, she allows herself to be influenced by her diabolical husband. This weakness in her character causes her to lose her life. Indeed, as the story ends, the reader realizes that the flaw in Georgiana’s heart is worse than the flaw on her face (Diorio 3). In the reading Georgiana explains, “I know not what may be the cost to both of us to rid me of this fatal birthmark” (Hawthorne 2). In the story, Georgiana’s pity brings the reader down as she is dying, though the reader knows it is partly Georgiana’s fault she is dying. Georgiana ends up becoming around and dynamic character, proven by Georgiana’s mental change in her opinion of the birthmark and her physical change after the birthmark had been removed (Stephanie 2). Georgiana in herself becomes a key tragic flaw in the story. Though unsure of herself at first, she becomes willing to fix her flaw just so her husband can love her the way he loves his sciences, even if it means killing her in the long run (Diorio
For Aylmer, his hubris or lack of insight is due to pride in his abilities (Wheeler 2). Aylmer became the major tragic flaws because he is too caught up in the physical flaw, which he doesn’t see the real beauty in Georgina, and by trying to fix the flaw he ends up killing her, though he does not realize he has done something wrong until it was too late to be reversed (Diorio 4). This secondary conflict later arose with God when Aylmer aimed to remove the birthmark on Georgiana’s face to make her be perfect for all that saw her and more (Stephanie 5). The conflicts arose also because Aylmer believed that he needed to only get rid of the birthmark to become happy. Because it was not only a hideous imperfection on her face, but it is a symbol for everything they hold dear to them. This conflict of classification is the very soul of Aylmer and Georgiana’s love for each other (Stephanie 4). Aylmer was used to seeing the world, not as a miracle or wonder, but as a code waiting to be cracked, and he cannot see Georgiana’s birthmark in any positive way. It mocked him because he is a scientist and she is his wife; he thought he was able to make her absolutely flawless (Diorio 3). Aylmer tries to remove the birthmark, can be assumed that it will bring Georgiana to her death (Stephanie 2). Therefore, …show more content…
Unaware, in a sense, she is doomed; she does not deliberately express it until the end of the story as she is “Vidal” and is dying. Hawthorne gives hints throughout the story that she is unaware of it. Having the birthmark was noticed as being a fatal flaw, can be used as foreshadowing tool that will take her life (Stephanie 1). Georgiana fails to realize that her worth does not depend on her appearance. Instead, she allows herself to be influenced by her diabolical husband. This weakness in her character causes her to lose her life. Indeed, as the story ends, the reader realizes that the flaw in Georgiana’s heart is worse than the flaw on her face (Diorio 3). In the reading Georgiana explains, “I know not what may be the cost to both of us to rid me of this fatal birthmark” (Hawthorne 2). In the story, Georgiana’s pity brings the reader down as she is dying, though the reader knows it is partly Georgiana’s fault she is dying. Georgiana ends up becoming around and dynamic character, proven by Georgiana’s mental change in her opinion of the birthmark and her physical change after the birthmark had been removed (Stephanie 2). Georgiana in herself becomes a key tragic flaw in the story. Though unsure of herself at first, she becomes willing to fix her flaw just so her husband can love her the way he loves his sciences, even if it means killing her in the long run (Diorio