'Perfection In The Birthmark' By Nathaniel Hawthorne

So often in relationships we find the smallest idiosyncrasies or characteristics charming at first. However, after the initial “honeymoon phase” these characteristics cannot be overlooked any longer. This is especially evident in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story, “The Birthmark”. A man named Aylmer is no longer able to overlook the birthmark that was bestowed upon his wife, Georgiana’s, cheek. Even though the mark was small enough to be covered by two fingers, he was not able to allow it to disrupt the utter perfection of the rest of her face. However, this mark represents much more than a cosmetic disfigurement. It represents the imperfection we strive to eliminate everyday. This is proven because Georgiana never thought of her birthmark as such a horrible thing until Aylmer pointed it out, then she wanted nothing more than for it to be removed. Also, as Aylmer tries everything to eliminate the mark it shows humanity’s obsession of trying anything and everything to achieve perfection, even if it means certain death.
It isn’t until Aylmer prompts the discussion of her having it removed that she begins to think of it as any less (Hawthorne, par. 3). It is at this point that she begins to doubt her ideas of said “charm”. Later in the story she remarks that she has always hated the mark contradicting what she said here (par. 51). Due to this boiling hatred Georgiana throws caution to the wind and obediently drinks the potion Aylmer had procured for her which ultimately leads to her