Nathaniel+Hawthorne

The Birthmark Nathaniel Hawthorne Summary: This story takes place in an era of scientific experimentation and invention. Among the many scientists fighting to conduct new inventions was Aylmer, a young, determined man who spends all of his time playing around trying to make the next big scientific step in American history. Aside from science Aylmer recently married a fine woman named Georgiana. Although Georgiana is a beautiful lady, she carries one distinct flaw about her. On her left cheek, Georgiana bears a dark crimson mark that can be covered by two fingers and is the shape of a hand. After Aylmer and Georgiana were married for a few months, Aylmer started to envision his wife differently. He could not look around or gaze at anything but the mark. Finally Georgiana caught the notion on what her husband was looking at. When Aylmer asked her if she ever thought of removing it, she answered no because it made her who she is today. Then Aylmer gave an honest opinion when he stated that the mark was her only imperfection and it shocked him that God would put a defect on His perfect creation. At this, Georgiana was flabbergasted and did not appreciate her husband's remarks. As time passed in the house of Aylmer, he continued to focus more and more on the mark. Georgiana started to ignore when he glanced at the 'hand' and one night asked him if he ever dreamt of her mark. Aylmer denied the allegations but that night he had a vision. In the dream, Aylmer and his assistant, Amiladab are removing the mark. When the mark is being separated they find it connected to her heart. When he awakes the next morning, Georgiana asks him if he could pluck the mark off, considering he is a scientist. Aylmer recalls his dream and says he believes the mark can be removed. Just before the removal of the birthmark when Aylmer is ready to smear his concoction on Georgiana, she faints. Aminadab, Aylmer's slave-like assistant, tells his master that if it was his wife, he would not try to remove the mole. Momentarily, Georgiana regains consciousness and is confused about what is happening. Aylmer tells her that he is going to brew up a mixture that will remove the mark for sure. The next couple of days for Aylmer were spent tediously trying to find the perfect ingredients for Georgiana's situation.At last, the concoction was created and Aylmer boastfully showed his wife. He told her how the mixture could cure anything and if one was to drink it, they would be immortal. Georgiana was cautious on whether she should use this powerful substance but was willing to try it the next day. That night however, she oversees Aylmer's personal journals and decided to read it. When glancing through she realizes how much Aylmer loves her and how he is only doing this experiment because he loves her tenderly. The day arrived when the couple will find out if the experiment would work or not. Georgiana lies down in the labratory while Aylmer prepares the mixture. Georgiana takes a swig of the mixture and immediately falls asleep. While asleep Aylmer examines the hand-shaped mark carefully, waiting for a change. Finally, the mark slowly but surely vanishes from the left cheek. Aylmer rejoiced and found it a vital success. Meanwhile Georgiana wakes up feeling ill. She sees Aylmer celebrating and notices the mark is gone, and then tells her husband the tragic news. She dolefully explains to Aylmer that she is dying. Moments later she is dead. Aylmer realizes that he should never have attempted to with the mole.

Correlation: //"To explain this conversation it must be mentioned that in the centre of Georgiana's left cheek there was a singular mark, deeply interwoven, as it were, with the texture and substance of her face. "// ... (p. 11) Explanation:Early in "The Birthmark", Hawthorne shows Aylmer's battle between love for science and love for woman. He is with his wife Georgiana when he asks if she ever thought of removing the mark. This is not a quote, but rather Hawthorne describing the birthmark on Georgiana's left cheek. He specifically tells how the mark is interwoven as if it were a normal part of the face. Later, the mark is described more in depth and detailed like how it is a deep crimson, is the shape of a hand, and can be covered which two fingers put over it. Hawthorne is showing mortality with this sentence and how no human will ever be perfect. The one word in this sentence that proves this theme is the word "interwoven". When I look at this word in the context of the passage, I notice that the mark sounds like her only defect on her body. Aylmer thinks that he can change this, but the word interwoven also talks about her soul. The physique of a human can possibly be perfect, but never the soul. Only God is immortal and humans will never reach that status.

//"Throw open the door of the boudoir, Aminadab," said Aylmer, "and burn a pastil."// //"Yes, master," answered Aminadab, 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." (p. 15)// Explanation: This tiny demand and opinion came after Georgiana passed out the first time. Aylmer finally convinced her to try to remove the mark and the scene took place in the laboratory. Just before he is ready to give his wife the medicine, Georgiana is pale and is unconscious. Aylmer notices this and yells at his servant Aminadab to hand him the medicine. Aminadab gives an honest opinion by saying that he feels the removal of the mark is not right. With only one sentence, one can tell that Aminadab symbolizes the morally correct thing to do in the situation. With him being the servant it symbolizes how the spirit's opinion is always heard, but the human body is the one who carries out the task. Like many circumstances throughout history the correct choice is sometimes overlooked because of greed. Here Aylmer was thinking more about himself and proving the whole world his new creation would be a success and looked passed the fact that it could harm or bring death to his own wife. What Aminadab says is also an example of foreshadowing for things to come in the book.

//"Aylmer now remembered his dream. He had fancied himself with his servant Aminadab, attempting an operation for the removal of the birthmark; but the deeper went the knife, the deeper sank the hand, until at length its tiny grasp appeared to have caught hold of Georgiana's heart; whence, however, her husband was inexorably resolved to cut or wrench it away." (p. 15)// Explanation: Before any of the experiments take place, Aylmer has a fatal dream. He dreams that Aminadab and himself are pursuing the removal of Georgiana's mark. The removal looks to be successful, until they attempt to pull off the mark. Aylmer keeps pulling the mark, but it becomes deeper and deeper into her skin. Aylmer is shocked to find that the crimson mark is connected to Georgiana's heart. That is when he wakes and tells his repulsive dream to his wife. Aylmer's dream is an example of foreshadowing because of the event that happens later in the story. In reality Aylmer does perform this procedure on Georgiana along with Aminadab. The mark finally disappears but she dies in the process.

Reflection: One of the main themes in "The Birthmark" is to accept what you have because that is the way that it was meant to be. In "The Birthmark" Aylmer has a beautiful woman in Georgiana. She is nearly perfect, except for his infamous mark on her left cheek. Even though Georgiana has a wonderful personality and a wonderful physique, Aylmer has to look at the only flaw. Aylmer thinks that it is possible to remove her mole because that would make her perfect. If he knew that it is not possible for any human to be perfect, he would have never proceeded with the experiment and his lovely wife would have never died. This problem still goes on today in many different shapes and forms. This theme can be related to current events, especially genetic engineering. God made flaws with every thing that is living for a reason, to show that only He is perfect. I understand why farmers may engineer crops so they are larger, taste better, and grow quicker because it is for business purposes. What I find a stretch is a new, upcoming idea which is known as cloning. Cloning used to be thought of as an impossible feat, but in the last decade technology has been able to clone organisms such as sheep and rats. Sooner rather than later scientists will try to duplicate humans. I do not know how many clones will be made, but if these clones are genetically perfect, what would be the fun if every person looks the same as one another (differences between males and females obviously). In my opinion God has made us and everything else imperfect for a reason and with Aylmer in the past and scientists in the present, we are pushing His limits.