Response Paper #2: "The Birthmark" 1. Our society tends to be obsessed with the idea of physical perfection. How does our society manifest that obsession? How is the "Birthmark" an early version of our modern obsession with physical perfection? Our society has many ways of manifesting its obsession with physical perfection. In our society people go to extreme lengths to achieve perfection. The "Birthmark"‚ written more than a century ago‚ is an early
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is why Nature ultimately has the final say in what can and cannot existence. In “The Birthmark”‚ Hawthorne suggests that nothing and no one is perfect nor has the ability to obtain said perfection. An obsession to surpass Earthly Nature can and will result in the destruction of what was once loved. Human beings have a natural desire to be perfect‚ but in reality perfection is unattainable. Throughout “The Birthmark”‚ Georgiana is constantly confronted with the fact that she bares the “visible mark
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in your own skin it will shine in your personality and attract the right people. It shows us the cruel things we do to ourselves just to fit into society. If we don’t look as the society pleases then kids get bullied just like Georgiana in The Birthmark. She is one of the most beautiful women
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In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Birthmark” Georgiana’s identity is constructed through gender roles and spiritual aspects. Aylmer‚ her husband‚ perception of her physical beauty is almost perfect except the birthmark on her left cheek which he believes to look like a tiny crimson hand. Some believed the birthmark to be a hand print from a fairy that was left as she was being born. Men in the past felt deeply for Georgiana‚ they viewed that birthmark as some that was beautiful “Many a desperate swain
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"The Birthmark" by Hawthorne is a short fiction that warns readers to take a second thought towards pursuing physical perfection. Throughout the story‚ Hawthorne uses a great deal of symbolism. These symbols in Hawthorne’s "Birthmark" not only foreshadow the outcome of the story but also reinforce the theme significantly. The birthmark in the story is a tiny‚ hand-shaped imperfection on Georgiana’s cheek. This tiny mark on Georgiana’s cheek may seem to be charming by others. However‚ to her husband
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“The Birthmark” The short story “The Birthmark”‚ by Nathaniel Hawthorne‚ tells the story of a scientist‚ his wife‚ and a unique birthmark that flaws the near perfect face of his wife. Through this story Hawthorne is trying to get a message across to the audience; sometimes‚ man is too eager to repair natural imperfections that may exist using science‚ rather than seeing these imperfections as beautiful natural occurrences‚ which will eventually lead to the destruction of nature. To get this
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In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Birth-Mark‚ Aylmer‚ a scientist tries to use science in order to make his wife perfect. She has a birthmark on her left cheek that to him causes him to believe is the only thing that causes her to not be perfect. Nathaniel Hawthorne is trying to stress how people have this cultural necessity for perfection. That perfection is something people must succeed in achieving be it in a passion or even more visually. And that this sort of idealism can never lead to anything well
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In the short story The Birthmark by Nathaniel Hawthorne‚ the birthmark on Georgiana’s cheek symbolizes mortality and the imperfection of human nature. According to the story‚ the narrator highlights that everything is flawed in some way‚ emphasizing that this is how nature reminds us that every living thing eventually dies. The hand shaped mark on Georgina’s cheek symbolizes the blemish on every living thing‚ the blemish that makes her mortal: “The crimson hand expressed the ineludible gripe in which
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Have you ever tried to look or do something perfect‚ but it never turned out perfect enough? That is because it is foolish to strive for perfection‚ which is the theme of “The Birthmark”. The theme is it is foolish to strive for perfection because anything perfect on earth is unrealistic. Hawthorne has a Christian belief‚ meaning the only way to become perfect is when you die and go to heaven. In heaven‚ your mind and body is restored to its younger self and you become perfect. Aylmer is the
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The Birthmark as a Symbol In Nathaniel Hawthorne ’s‚ The Birthmark‚ the symbolism is quite evident of the birthmarks upon Georgiana ’s face. It represents Aylmer ’s struggles with nature and science‚ through his repeated attempts of the removal of it. This clash between science and nature illustrates the concept of man versus woman‚ through the femininity of nature and the masculine traits of the world of science. Throughout the story‚ nature is portrayed as feminine and is even present through
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