Ignorance of Man
“The Birthmark” written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1843 takes place in the late 1700’s “In the latter part of the last century”. (Mays, 339) Aylmer, a scientist of philosophy and chemistry, leaves his laboratory in the care of his assistant to marry Georgiana, a beautiful woman. The story, written in third person perspective allows the reader to experience the story with their own point of view. One day, Aylmer stared at Georgina and asks her has she ever thought of having the crimson hand birthmark in the middle of her left cheek removed. Georgina says, “No indeed. To tell you the truth, it has been so often called a charm”. Aylmer does not find it charming, he finds it flaws Georgina and needs to be removed. Hawthorne …show more content…
This near perfect woman from Nature has him increasingly focusing on the removal of this birthmark. It is shocking to him that it is part of the most perfect woman. Aylmer feels betrayed by his own true love, Nature, for not giving him the perfect woman. He needs to change this. He is a man of science, he creates miracles, and he revels in the idea that he can create a perfect woman. Aylmer a man of science thinks through the power of Nature he can create beautiful things. He thinks of removing this imperfection, this “sin”, will prove he has godly powers. During the 1700’s science was only for the elite and at one point, scientists believed they could bring the dead back to life. (Lauren Foley) Scientists were mysterious and miracle workers. Aylmer wants to feel connected to this spiritual side of science. He visions being commended for creating the perfect woman when he removes the flaw. “Aylmer undertakes to eliminate the birthmark from his wife’s cheek because in so doing he would realize his greatest scientific achievement and rescue his career from the failure he privately considers it to be” This is the perfect opportunity to regain the praises from his colleagues. (Richards) Georgiana loves her husband and the thought he thinks she is hideous and shocking is confusing to her. “Then why take me away from my mother” Georgiana is coerced by her husband’s constant harassment to have the birthmark removed. Georgiana …show more content…
He believes by removing the “mark”, Georgiana’s “sin”, he will conquer Nature. He tries several times to remove the birthmark. First, he uses a flower, but the flower dies. He then makes a metal plate of Georgiana’s face and the birthmark is on the metal plate, so he throws it in acid. Georgiana finds Aylmer’s lab books on a shelf and reads them. She becomes suspicious of Aylmer’s ability as a good scientist for his experiments “fall short” of his goals. Georgina cries, for she finds his work remarkable and is proud of his accomplishments. Aylmer comforts her by showing her his cabinet of chemicals. One vial contains a powerful perfume and another vial contains a powerful poison. Georgiana is disgusted by the vial of poison and her husband’s attitude that it kills only for good. Aylmer says he could make a potion to remove the “mark”. Aylmer asks his assistant, Aminadab, to help him remove the birthmark. Hawthorne describes Aminadab as grotesque human being where Aylmer is described as a slender man. Aminadab says, “If she were my wife, I’d never part with that birth-mark”. (Mays 343) Aminadab represents the physical side of humans and Aylmer represents the spiritual side. “With his vast strength, his shaggy hair, his smoky aspect, and the indescribable earthiness that incrusted him, Aminadab seemed to represent man's physical nature; while Aylmer's slender figure, and pale, intellectual face, were no less apt a type of the
“The Birthmark” written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1843 takes place in the late 1700’s “In the latter part of the last century”. (Mays, 339) Aylmer, a scientist of philosophy and chemistry, leaves his laboratory in the care of his assistant to marry Georgiana, a beautiful woman. The story, written in third person perspective allows the reader to experience the story with their own point of view. One day, Aylmer stared at Georgina and asks her has she ever thought of having the crimson hand birthmark in the middle of her left cheek removed. Georgina says, “No indeed. To tell you the truth, it has been so often called a charm”. Aylmer does not find it charming, he finds it flaws Georgina and needs to be removed. Hawthorne …show more content…
This near perfect woman from Nature has him increasingly focusing on the removal of this birthmark. It is shocking to him that it is part of the most perfect woman. Aylmer feels betrayed by his own true love, Nature, for not giving him the perfect woman. He needs to change this. He is a man of science, he creates miracles, and he revels in the idea that he can create a perfect woman. Aylmer a man of science thinks through the power of Nature he can create beautiful things. He thinks of removing this imperfection, this “sin”, will prove he has godly powers. During the 1700’s science was only for the elite and at one point, scientists believed they could bring the dead back to life. (Lauren Foley) Scientists were mysterious and miracle workers. Aylmer wants to feel connected to this spiritual side of science. He visions being commended for creating the perfect woman when he removes the flaw. “Aylmer undertakes to eliminate the birthmark from his wife’s cheek because in so doing he would realize his greatest scientific achievement and rescue his career from the failure he privately considers it to be” This is the perfect opportunity to regain the praises from his colleagues. (Richards) Georgiana loves her husband and the thought he thinks she is hideous and shocking is confusing to her. “Then why take me away from my mother” Georgiana is coerced by her husband’s constant harassment to have the birthmark removed. Georgiana …show more content…
He believes by removing the “mark”, Georgiana’s “sin”, he will conquer Nature. He tries several times to remove the birthmark. First, he uses a flower, but the flower dies. He then makes a metal plate of Georgiana’s face and the birthmark is on the metal plate, so he throws it in acid. Georgiana finds Aylmer’s lab books on a shelf and reads them. She becomes suspicious of Aylmer’s ability as a good scientist for his experiments “fall short” of his goals. Georgina cries, for she finds his work remarkable and is proud of his accomplishments. Aylmer comforts her by showing her his cabinet of chemicals. One vial contains a powerful perfume and another vial contains a powerful poison. Georgiana is disgusted by the vial of poison and her husband’s attitude that it kills only for good. Aylmer says he could make a potion to remove the “mark”. Aylmer asks his assistant, Aminadab, to help him remove the birthmark. Hawthorne describes Aminadab as grotesque human being where Aylmer is described as a slender man. Aminadab says, “If she were my wife, I’d never part with that birth-mark”. (Mays 343) Aminadab represents the physical side of humans and Aylmer represents the spiritual side. “With his vast strength, his shaggy hair, his smoky aspect, and the indescribable earthiness that incrusted him, Aminadab seemed to represent man's physical nature; while Aylmer's slender figure, and pale, intellectual face, were no less apt a type of the