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
the third person omniscient point of view, Hawthorne’s readers gain access into the thoughts of Aylmer, Georgiana, and even Aylmer’s strapping assistant Aminadab. By Hawthorne narrating his story in this particular way, he ultimately gives the readers an insight into the very differing opinions regarding Georgiana’s seemingly fatal flaw. This narration also allows Hawthorne’s readers to see that in many cases when searching for perfection, loved ones and other many blessings can be forgotten and unfortunately lost. Hawthorne’s readers are first able to tell that Aylmer is a perfectionist when we see throughout the story that even though Georgiana is described as incredibly beautiful, her one flaw, the birth-mark, eventually drives him away from her and causes him to find a need to get rid of it in the first place. For example, Aylmer questions, “[Has it ever occurred to you that the mark upon your check might be removed?] (Hawthorne 212).” The readers first see here that Aylmer is questioning how he feels about his wife’s appearance, though she is nearly perfect. Georgiana on the other hand, when she is asked about her seemingly insignificant facial blemish, simply dismisses the mark as a part of herself she has learned to love. For instance she replies, “To tell you the truth, it has so often been called a charm, that I was simple enough to imagine it might be so (Hawthorne 212).” Next, Hawthorne’s readers are also able to see that perfectionism is the theme when the author clues the readers in on the fact that many other men found her shockingly attractive and paid no attention to the one frivolous flaw Georgiana’s husband caused to take out of proportions.
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
still the only one who views this as a bad thing when he states, regarding his wife’s birth-mark, “In this manner, selecting it as the symbol of his wife’s liability to sin, sorrow, decay, and death, Aylmer’s somber imagination was not long in rendering the birth-mark a frightful object, causing him more trouble and horror than ever Georgiana’s beauty, whether of soul or sense, had given him delight. (Hawthorne 213).” Third, the theme of the story continues when the author finally reveals just how far Georgiana’s husband would go to change her, and what he would risk to go through with it. In this part of the story, the readers start to realize that Aylmer has taken his experiment way too far, and has become obsessed with “fixing” Georgiana through science. Aylmer does many things throughout the story to Georgiana to change her, that she and the readers are unaware of until the very ending of the story when he tells her what may happen to her if she does let him attempt to remove the birth-mark. For example, “[Nothing shall be concealed. Know, then, that this crimson hand, superficial as it seems, has clutched its grasp into your being with a strength of which I had no previous conception. I have already administered agents powerful enough to do aught except to change your entire physical system. Only one thing remains to be tried. If that fail us we are ruined (Hawthorne 222).” It is here the reader realizes that Aylmer’s need for perfection has clouded his judgment to the point of poisoning his very own wife, just in attempt to finally see her the way he believes she is supposed to be. At this point the readers have also seen that Aylmer has let his obsession with science overpower his love for his wife, which reveals to the readers the dangers over letting science rule over anyone’s life- especially when trying to help or save loved ones. It can be difficult to be satisfied with life if a certain mental picture of what should be is pictured, and the third person omniscient point of view shows that.
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
kill.

Works Cited:

Hawthorne, Nathaniel “Birth-Mark.” The Norton Introduction to Literature. Ed. Kelly J. Mays. Portable 11th ed. New York: Norton, 2014. 211-225. Print