Perfection in The Birthmark

Hawthorne’s narrative The Birthmark is about an 18^th century scientist, Aylmer and his beautiful wife, Georgiana. Aylmer is a perfectionist who believes that he can make right anything by the use of Science. His love Georgiana is weakened by one imperfection that she has. She has a birthmark on her cheek that resembles a small hand. To some, the birthmark complements her beauty; for most women, the birthmark works against her beautiful face. One day, Aylmer confesses that he finds the birthmark ugly. This statement hurts Georgiana and she wonders why the husband would say such a thing. With time, they both agree that the birthmark should be removed and start working towards it. While the birthmark almost disappears, Georgiana eventually dies. This narrative is mainly about perfection, the characters in this novel are all after perfection at one point or the other.

Aylmer is a man of science. He believes that science is a perfect discipline that can right anything with proper application. He also considers himself perfect in science. This belief in himself and science  is so absolute that he risks his wife’s life and even lead to her death (Fogle 34). He is however not perfect in every sense. Prior to performing the fatal experiment, he has failed in numerous other experiments. These include his attempt at creating a flower and attempts to remove her birthmark. These failures should warn him, but they don’t.

Despite her beauty and likability, Georgiana is not perfect. The birthmark still makes her appear imperfect in the eyes of some people (Bronfen 126). On another note, the birthmark makes her perfect in terms of humanness. It is the nature of humans to be imperfect. Like everyone else she has her imperfection.  The birthmark could be anything. She is gullible, easy to anger and only immortal. All these are imperfections that are associated with humanity.

Everyone has an opinion about Georgiana. Some consider her beautiful and think that the birthmark only makes her more beautiful. Others feel that she is imperfect. Everyone is looking for a perfect woman when they try to define her. The entire society is intent to find a perfect and immortal woman (Reid 347). The scientist is only a tool trying to meet the requirements of the society. However, the definition of perfection is not clear.

The disagreement of the society depicts an imperfect society. They do not agree on what defines a perfect society (Bronfen 126). The society is in disagreement in regard to the way beauty should be defined. For women and the scientist, this is a problem that needs to be resolved. Eventually, even Georgiana, who had initially thought herself beautiful, starts seeing in another light. She eventually wants to have the birthmark removed.

Death is the mark of imperfection. It leaves people sad and takes away the joy of others. It is implied by stating “like whom their visible frames return to dust” (Hawthorne 2). This is an idea that is borrowed from Christianity. According to Christianity, humans are made from dust and must return to dust. On this note they must be expected to die at some point. Even the science of Aylmer does not succeed in alleviating this aspect of humanity. Her very own wife eventually dies when he is trying to make her perfect. Her death is seemingly timed. Just when they become hopeful of removing the weakness, the woman dies.

Works Cited

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The birthmark. EmPress Moon, 1994.

Bronfen, Elisabeth. Over her dead body: death, femininity and the aesthetic. Manchester University Press, 1992.

Fogle, Richard Harter. Hawthorne’s fiction: the light & the dark. University of Oklahoma Press, 1964.

Reid, Alfred S. “Hawthorne’s Humanism:” The Birthmark” and Sir Kenelm Digby.” American Literature (1966): 337-351.