Loves Fatal Flaw In The Birth-Mark, By Nathaniel Hawthorne

Loves Fatal Flaw

In the short story, “The Birth-mark,” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, a mad scientist named Aylmer leaves his experiments behind in hopes of marrying the beautiful, nearly perfect, Georgiana. Georgiana is admired by everyone for her beauty, but she has one very noticeable flaw- a birthmark in the shape of a hand on her left check. Being the scientist Aylmer is said to be, he tells his newly acquired wife that even though she is happy with the way she looks, he wants to try and use science to get rid of her one and only flaw. Though he still finds her beautiful, throughout the story he becomes repulsed by her, and in this we find the theme of the story. Through
For example, “Georgiana’s lovers were wont to say that some fairy at her birth-hour had laid her tiny hand upon the infant’s cheek, and left this impress there in token of the magic endowments that were to give her such sway over all hearts (Hawthorne 213).” When this quote is read, it seems the author is trying to subtly say that Aylmer is the only man Georgiana has ever been with that has had a problem with the birth-mark and has wanted to change her. In fact, this almost suggests that even though Aylmer claims that his love for science and his love for his wife are intertwined, that he values his experiments over her. This leads the readers to see that there is not something wrong with Georgiana, but something wrong with her husband and the way he views her. For example, even Aminadab, the assistant shows Georgiana more compassion than her own husband. Aminadab is described as a very masculine, strong, sturdy kind of character, and even he can see the way Aylmer is treating his wife is wrong. He states, “If she were my wife, I’d never part with that birth-mark. (Hawthorne 216).” In this, the readers are able to the see the shift in Aylmer’s feelings towards his wife, and that fact that he is
By being able to look into the thoughts of all three main characters, readers are able to see the theme clearly right from the moment Aylmer questions his attraction to wife, to Aminadab claiming he would never change her. Lastly, when Georgiana dies in the very end, and Aylmer finally realizes what he has done, the reader’s see how his need for perfection overshadows what he has really needed and loved the most all along. Had Aylmer realized in the beginning what he had while he had it, he may have reacted and treated his wife differently. Perfectionism can have a great impact on someone and the people around them. Hawthorne demonstrates this in the story very well. Throughout the story the readers slowly see Aylmer’s perfectionism and overpowering love of science take over his life and his marriage. This caused Aylmer to doubt and eventually lose his feelings of love and attraction towards his wife, and almost shifting those feeling over to science. It’s always important to remember that sometimes…perfection can be the one very thing that could