The Birthmark “Nature is relentless and unchangeable‚ and it is indifferent as to whether its hidden reasons and actions are understandable to man or not” (Galileo Galilei). Scientist Aylmer is disgusted with his wife Georgina’s birthmark and persistent in removing it. He thinks Georgina is perfect except for her birthmark and he says that the birthmark is a “visible mark on earthly imperfection” (Hawthorne‚ 304). Aylmer tries to remove something perfectly natural by using science in form of a fatal
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Duke in "My Last Duchess" desires psychological power over his Duchess The poem "My Last Duchess" is a dramatic monologue written by Robert Browning‚ coming from the Duke of Ferrara. In the poem he displays his megalomaniac tendencies towards his late wife and how he feels his title symbolises his power over her. We also learn how he doesn’t want his wife for love but to be able to exhibit her and ’show her off’ and enforce psychological power over. The Duke calls her "My Last Duchess"; here the
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Explore the ways in which Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth and Browning presents the speakers in Porphyria’s Lover‚ My Last Duchess and the Laboratory Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth in such a way that she is shown as a strong and powerful woman. Her ability to manipulate Macbeth to murder Duncan in order to get more power is a key example of this aspect of her character. Browning also presents his speakers in a similar way to Shakespeare through their need to control. The main way that both
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outcome. Such is the case in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story‚ "The Birthmark." Aylmer’s persistent attempt to perfect nature is the cause of Georgiana’s demise and the affirmation that when man tampers with such a powerful component terrible things may occur. In this short story‚ Hawthorne uses symbolism to emphasize the strange shape of the "earthly imperfection" (204) and his desperate need to change it. The shape of the birthmark "bore a little similarity to the human hand" (204). Here‚ Hawthorne’s
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The Birthmark on Mortal Perfection Hawthorne writes about a subject that is still very prominent now. He examines the obsession with human perfection. The story tells of a very successful scientist and philosopher‚ Aylmer‚ and his very beautiful wife Georgiana. Aylmer is obsessed with perfection‚ as are most scientists. He makes sure he experiments with all possible options to conclude the best results for a perfect solution. Now Aylmer is very much in love with his wife Georgiana‚ and she with
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the “Birthmark” Many desperate men like a beauty mark on a women‚ a women becomes jealous of a birthmark because it becomes competition for a women without one. A man becomes obsessed with his wife’s birthmark to the point that he tries to control and manipulate nature. Love is not perfect‚ either is man or woman. A short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne‚ “The Birthmark”‚ is a short story about a newly married couple and the husband becomes obsessed with his wife’s birthmark. The birthmark is a
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“Porphyria’s Lover” and “My Last Duchess‚” are similar in that they both include murderers who coldly describe their evil deeds without any remorse. “Porphyria’s Lover”‚ begins with a lover describing the arrival of Porphyria‚ and then it quickly descends into a description of her murder at his hands. He describes how he strangled his lover with her own hair to preserve the moment forever. The poem “My Last Duchess” also echoes this theme of depravity. The Duke describes his last wife‚ whose painting
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The Unattainability of Perfection: A Critical Analysis of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Birthmark” Perfection is one of the most sought-after qualities in society. People are willing to shell out large sums of money for dieting plans‚ training regimens‚ and plastic surgery – all in an attempt to be perfect‚ whether that means having a slim waist‚ a defined core‚ or a more attractive nose. However‚ nobody is flawless. Even if an individual alters their physical appearance to what they believe to be
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The “Birthmark” was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1843‚ while “Frankenstein” was written by Mary Shelly originally in 1831. These two stories share multiple similarities along with a few differences. For starters both stories have plots that of which are relatable to one another; such as losing loved ones and experimental mistakes. Themes are strongly stressed in either story but more-so the theme of “Playing God”. The characters themselves are widely different yet strangely similar‚ like the
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“The Birthmark” What is a birthmark? Webster’s Dictionary states: A birthmark is a blemish or new growth on the skin formed before birth and is usually brown or dark red in color. There is no need to say that it is not a normal part of one’s body‚ a birthmark is just a part of being a human. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s famously known short story‚ “‘The Birthmark’‚ tells of a scientist’s passion to overcome what he deems to be the imperfection of nature” (Cassill) and uses the birthmark its self‚ Aylmer’s
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