Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Birth-Mark

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story “The Birth-Mark” shows the thoughtlessness of creating a perfect being. Hawthorne conveys this message through the tale of the scientist Aylmer and his wife Georgiana, who has hand-shaped birthmark on her left cheek. Aylmer becomes engrossed with Georgiana birthmark that keeps his wife from becoming perfect and decides to remove the birthmark through his science. In “The Birth-Mark” Nathaniel Hawthorne utilizes Georgiana weak self-conscious, the birthmark, and the concoction to emphasis the theme of striving for perfection.
Aylmer critical perception of Georgiana birthmark hinders her self-confidence. Aylmer constant glances at his wife’s birthmark caused extreme discomfort for Georgiana. She begins to question
their relationship and wonders if their relationship would be affected by the removal of the birthmark. With Aylmer’s concentrated attention on his wife’s mark and Georgiana’s uncertainly resulted in her misery and her undying wish to get rid of the birthmark. “Let the attempt be made at whatever risk. Danger is nothing to me; for life, while this hateful mark makes me the object of your horror and disgust, -- life is a burden which I would fling down with joy. Either remove this dreadful hand, or take my wretched life” (Hawthorne). Georgiana felt discouraged and disgusted in front of her husband and becomes desperate for his love. Due to his disheartening view, Georgiana loses her confidence in herself and her appearance. She becomes a victim of Aylmer’s unreal outlook of perfection in his wife and felt that the removal of her hand-shaped birthmark was well worth the risks she will face onwards. His irrational ideals of removing his wife’s birthmark and making Georgiana perfect drove him crazy, causing Alymer to feel ashamed and embarrassed of her. His egotistical attitude and pride got the best of Aylmer, and it made him