A Close Read Of The Birthmark 1
Andrew Wintringham
English 101
Mrs. Jen
10 September 2014
A Close Read of “The Birthmark” In “The Birthmark,” a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne, he uses symbolism and allegories to show the conflict between man and nature. On the surface of the story Aylmer’s reason for wanting to remove the only flaw in his wife, a flaw left by nature, was to improve the beauty of his wife. However under the surface of the story we see that Aylmer’s obsession to remove the birthmark and find perfection in his wife is man trying to perfect nature. By fixing this flaw Aylmer in a way can ascend to a higher level. Then we see how mans desire for perfection over nature will never work. He ignores the boundaries set by nature and it costs him his beautiful wife.
Nobody really sees a problem with the birthmark other than maybe being jealous of Georgiana’s beauty. Even as Aylmer’s assistant Aminadab enters, “Looking intently at the lifeless form of Georgiana; and then he muttered to himself, "If she were my wife, I 'd never part with that birthmark." (Hawthorne). This is interesting because as it describes Aminadab, “A man of low stature, but bulky frame… with his vast strength, his shaggy hair, his smoky aspect, and the indescribable earthiness that incrusted him, he seemed to represent man 's physical nature” (Hawthorne). This brings to mind that Aminadab is a symbol and comparable to nature and he even states he would not change a thing about her. However the birthmark is all that Aylmer even sees when he looks at her and his obsession with removing it only worsens.
At first the story leads us to believe Aylmer might be able to create a cure for the birthmark. It starts “On the window seat there stood a geranium diseased with yellow blotches, which had overspread all its leaves. Aylmer poured a small quantity of the liquid upon the soil in which it grew. In a little time, when the roots of the plant had taken up the moisture, the unsightly blotches began to be extinguished in a
English 101
Mrs. Jen
10 September 2014
A Close Read of “The Birthmark” In “The Birthmark,” a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne, he uses symbolism and allegories to show the conflict between man and nature. On the surface of the story Aylmer’s reason for wanting to remove the only flaw in his wife, a flaw left by nature, was to improve the beauty of his wife. However under the surface of the story we see that Aylmer’s obsession to remove the birthmark and find perfection in his wife is man trying to perfect nature. By fixing this flaw Aylmer in a way can ascend to a higher level. Then we see how mans desire for perfection over nature will never work. He ignores the boundaries set by nature and it costs him his beautiful wife.
Nobody really sees a problem with the birthmark other than maybe being jealous of Georgiana’s beauty. Even as Aylmer’s assistant Aminadab enters, “Looking intently at the lifeless form of Georgiana; and then he muttered to himself, "If she were my wife, I 'd never part with that birthmark." (Hawthorne). This is interesting because as it describes Aminadab, “A man of low stature, but bulky frame… with his vast strength, his shaggy hair, his smoky aspect, and the indescribable earthiness that incrusted him, he seemed to represent man 's physical nature” (Hawthorne). This brings to mind that Aminadab is a symbol and comparable to nature and he even states he would not change a thing about her. However the birthmark is all that Aylmer even sees when he looks at her and his obsession with removing it only worsens.
At first the story leads us to believe Aylmer might be able to create a cure for the birthmark. It starts “On the window seat there stood a geranium diseased with yellow blotches, which had overspread all its leaves. Aylmer poured a small quantity of the liquid upon the soil in which it grew. In a little time, when the roots of the plant had taken up the moisture, the unsightly blotches began to be extinguished in a
Cited: Hawthorne, Nathaniel, and Nathaniel Hawthorne. The Birthmark. Raleigh, N.C.: Alex Catalogue, 1843. Web.