The birthmark character analysis. Aylmer Character Analysis in The Birthmark 2022-12-21
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In Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story "The Birthmark," the main character is a scientist named Aylmer who is obsessed with removing a small, reddish birthmark on his wife Georgiana's cheek. The birthmark, which Aylmer sees as a blemish on Georgiana's otherwise perfect beauty, becomes a symbol of his internal conflict between his love for his wife and his obsession with perfection.
Aylmer is described as a highly intelligent and ambitious scientist who is constantly seeking ways to improve and perfect the natural world. He is deeply in love with Georgiana and sees her as his greatest creation, but the birthmark becomes a source of frustration for him. Despite Georgiana's insistence that the birthmark is a part of who she is and that it does not affect her beauty or worth, Aylmer becomes fixated on removing it.
As Aylmer begins to experiment on ways to remove the birthmark, it becomes clear that his obsession is driven by his own ego and desire for perfection. He sees the birthmark as a flaw that he must fix in order to prove his own scientific ability and to achieve the perfect wife. In his pursuit of this perfection, Aylmer becomes selfish and neglects the well-being and feelings of Georgiana.
Despite her reservations, Georgiana ultimately agrees to undergo the experimental procedure to remove the birthmark. The procedure is a success, but at a grave cost. Georgiana's health deteriorates rapidly and she eventually dies, leaving Aylmer to realize the true cost of his obsession with perfection.
Through the character of Aylmer, Hawthorne explores the dangerous consequences of the pursuit of perfection and the destructive power of ego. Aylmer's obsession with the birthmark ultimately leads to the loss of the very person he loves the most, and serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of letting our own desires and ego drive our actions.
The Birthmark: Character List
Then came the slender stalk; the leaves gradually unfolded themselves; and amid them was a perfect and lovely flower. Although he has achieved many impressive scientific feats, he has also often failed to accomplish what he aimed to. The birthmark in the novel is a symbol of Define: Perfection, the condition, state, or quality of being free or as free as possible from all flaws or defects, that is what Aylmer wants from his wife, just one thing is in his way, a birthmark. Hawthorne 301 Georgiana eventually dies after Aylmer thinks it is all over. Ultimately, she dies when the birthmark disappears because it was the only imperfect part of her, and thus her only link to the mortal world. Georgiana was still quite frightened by what Aylmer was about to do to her and she faints as soon as she enters the room.
Aylmer behavior is very controlling and manipulative to others around him, which leads him to correct imperfection. The latter pursuit, however, Aylmer had long laid aside in unwilling recognition of the truth—against which all seekers sooner or later stumble—that our great creative Mother, while she amuses us with apparently working in the broadest sunshine, is yet severely careful to keep her own secrets, and, in spite of her pretended openness, shows us nothing but results. In addition, both male characters feel the need to dominate and control the women in their lives for feared of being overpowered by their sexuality. . Symbolism In The Birthmark And The Tell-Tale Heart 437 Words 2 Pages This piece of evidence displays Aylmer's selfishness. The Birth Mark Analysis Essay 523 Words 3 Pages 147 At the end of the story, Aylmer accomplishes the surgical procedure of removing the birth mark; however, it killed his wife in the process.
Demonstrating this behavior leads to overpowering desire of perfection and his ability to control. Even though he was aware of the dangers of the procedure, he carried through with them. He gave a history of the long dynasty of the alchemists, who spent so many ages in quest of the universal solvent by which the golden principle might be elicited from all things vile and base. I believe that Aylmer was truly evil in the way he manipulated Georgiana in thinking he truly cared about her. She felt how much more precious was such a sentiment than that meaner kind which would have borne with the imperfection for her sake, and have been guilty of treason to holy love by degrading its perfect idea to the level of the actual; and with her whole spirit she prayed that, for a single moment, she might satisfy his highest and deepest conception.
Think not so unworthily of me, my husband. He then abandoned his experiments for true love, Georgiana. There lived a man who loved science and was also a philosopher, Aylmer. Aylmer knew that staring at Georgiana would make …show more content… Unfortunately for Georgiana, he continued to go through with the procedure. With each of these different techniques he uses them to contribute to the story to create the theme or idea of the Comparing Women In The Yellow Wallpaper And The Birthmark 801 Words 4 Pages In the nineteenth century, woman had no power over men in society. Hawthorne uses The Birth Mark as a lesson to be learned that everyone cannot be perfect.
Georgiana worships her husband and submits to his unreasonable demands, despite her suspicions that they will kill her. Hawthorne tells a story of a man of science whose name was Aylmer. Aylmer, who is a protagonist in nature considers working in the opposite direction with reality. She also proves to be more morally upright than her husband, as she willingly puts herself in danger for the happiness of another person. It was the sad confession and continual exemplification of the shortcomings of the composite man, the spirit burdened with clay and working in matter, and of the despair that assails the higher nature at finding itself so miserably thwarted by the earthly part. Its visual prominence depends on the paleness or blush of the surrounding cheek at any given moment. His obsession for …show more content… The author introduces Aylmer as a brilliant scientist, who to a certain extent sees himself as God.
Aylmer bade her cast her eyes upon a vessel containing a quantity of earth. Some women did not mind this lifestyle, and remained obedient, while some rebelled and demanded their rights. The author introduces Aylmer as a brilliant scientist whose actions are guided by the overpowered sense of decency. GradeSaver, 1 August 2022 Web. It is the most precious poison that ever was concocted in this world. She permits us, indeed, to mar, but seldom to mend, and, like a jealous patentee, on no account to make. Because of his overly pragmatic mind that operates outside of decency and morality, Aylmer's character shows us the dangers of unchecked ambition and intellect, as well as the limitations of scientific pursuits.
This is the catalyst for Aylmer's seeking for perfection in his wife who is a natural being. Ironically, Aminadab feels more compassion for Georgiana than her own husband does. Aylmer does not accept the idea of imperfections in people. Instead, Aylmer proceeds by taking Georgiana to his laboratory to be experimented on. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica that word can be understood as an inherent defect in. The flower will wither in a few moments and leave nothing save its brown seed vessels; but thence may be perpetuated a race as ephemeral as itself. The protagonists from both stories, Jane and Georgiana, similarly lived a male dominated lifestyle.
Character Analysis of Georgiana in the Birthmark by Nathaniel Hawthorne
I have already given this matter the deepest thought—thought which might almost have enlightened me to create a being less perfect than yourself. A beautiful, intelligent, and caring woman, Georgiana is physically and spiritually lovely. Then a hoarse, chuckling laugh was heard again! Buy Study Guide Aylmer An accomplished yet misguided scientist, Aylmer has made revolutionary discoveries about the physical world, from volcanoes to clouds to mines. He presents an idea about scientific research, especially regarding feminine beauty. I feel myself fully competent to render this dear cheek as faultless as its fellow; and then, most beloved, what will be my triumph when I shall have corrected what Nature left imperfect in her fairest work! Her only flaw is a small red birthmark shaped like a tiny hand on her left cheek. No king on his guarded throne could keep his life if I, in my private station, should deem that the welfare of millions justified me in depriving him of it. His brightest diamonds were the merest pebbles, and felt to be so by himself, in comparison with the inestimable gems which lay hidden beyond his reach.
The birthmark is described to represent a red hand on her cheek. Although she is very beautiful and much admired by men, she has a small, reddish, hand-shaped birthmark on her left cheek. Georgiana, you have led me deeper than ever into the heart of science. Aylmer believes he can remove the birthmark in a science experiment and make her as beautiful as nature intended her to be. The story zooms in on a young married couple; a vibrant scientist named Aylmer and his lovely wife Georgiana. Georgiana stayed true to her husband before her death but I still believe she knew she had made a mistake and that Aylmer was not the man she thought he was.
It scared her to she would continue to have to deal with the ridicule from him. It was the fatal flaw of humanity which Nature, in one shape or another, stamps ineffaceably on all her productions, either to imply that they are temporary and finite, or that their perfection must be wrought by toil and pain. Even Pygmalion, when his sculptured woman assumed life, felt not greater ecstasy than mine will be. For example, Aylmer believes he can concoct an elixir vitae—a potion that will render the drinker immortal—and becomes obsessed with his outlandishly ambitious experiments and pursuit for human perfection. He was so caught up in the one imperfection in his wife that he was ready to do anything he could do to discard it.
