The Pursuit Of Humanity In The Birthmark By Nathaniel Hawthorne

A humans’ desire to defy Mother Nature can sometimes cause a problem to another human if it cannot be controlled. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story, “The Birthmark” illustrates a Man versus Nature theme as mans desire to fix what Mother Nature created leads him on a quest towards perfection. Humans are imperfect beings; therefore, they cannot be perfect despite their attempts through science. Furthermore, if one reaches perfection then they are no longer considered human. Thesis Statement: In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story, “The Birthmark,” the main character Aylmer pursuit for perfection conflicts directly with human mortality, ultimately resulting in the death of his wife, Georgiana. Through her death Hawthorne argues that the pursuit for perfection will ultimately leave one to nothing. His argument is revealed through the concepts that humanity is flawed because they are mortal, science cannot replace God, and perfection ultimately comes with a cost.
Topic Sentence 1: One of the most important symbols presented throughout Hawthorne’s short story is Aylmer’s wife, Georgiana’s, birthmark. The birthmark symbolizes multiple things such as humanity’s flaws, insecurities, and weaknesses, which ultimately ends with the the idea of human mortality. Georgiana is a beautiful woman who is desirable by many men, however her hand-shaped birthmark …show more content…
If someone, however, reaches perfection then they are no longer human, for one’s imperfection is what makes an individual human. If take what make them human the they are no longer humans. Hawthorne strongly employs this argument by symbolizing Georgiana’s birthmark for human mortality. In addition, through his argument he is able to reveal that humanity is flawed because they are mortal, science cannot replace God, and perfection ultimately comes with a