The Birthmark

"The Birthmark"

Nathaniel Hawthorne 

I was very confused with this story by Hawthorne. This piece of literature is all about science. Aylmer is a character who was presented to be evil. He seems to be a character to think nothing is too complicated to figure out. Aylmer viewed everything as wrong no matter what it was. For example, he thought Georgiana's face was messed up on her left cheek with a deep interwoven mark. In my opinion, Aylmer is trying to be like God and go above God's creations. I think Aylmer is simply a stock version of a mad scientist. In one way he might be regarded as an idealist because he is influenced by ideals that often conflict with practical considerations. 

Aylmer thought he could remove the birthmark. To Aylmer, the birthmark resembles a mark of earthly imperfection. Is he playing God? It seems that he is going to try with all his might to. It amazes me that she gave into him about removing this mark from her. Especially when she said, "no matter the cost." I knew he was playing God when he said, "doubt not my power."

I think Georgiana loved Aylmer more than he did her. This is because she tells Aylmer to find a way to rid the birthmark from her face. Aylmer is characterized as guilty of the sin of pride. Georgiana took pride in her appearance until Aylmer stared at the mark after they got married. He then thought of a special formula to get rid of it. If he loved her, he should not have judged her of the mark that he said was an imperfection.

Despite the risks to Georgiana, Aylmer conducts his experiments in the hope and expectation of achieving a higher goal. He devotes his life to science, and yet he is an egotist. Aylmer places his self at the center of the world and not being concerned with the one he loves. It is like he loves himself and his powers. He is concerned that his powers are mightier than God's. I see him as being the devil and seeing everything as an imperfection. It is like he can do everything right with no mistakes.