The Birthmark Analysis

Since I reached Virginia I decided to focus more on my writing since I got nothing to do and I’m against the idea of joining universities in here (I’m a loyal KUer). Luckily I have an amazing mentor who happens to be a writer, her name is Shahd Thani (@Rambling_Sha) the author of “Emirati Kinda Love Story.” You can find her story here > http://www.shahoodeh.blogspot.com

To be quiet honest I brag about her A LOT because I wouldn’t be the writer I am today without her. She’s the only one who offered her hand to help and I’m really thankful for having her as my mentor, sister and mommy (yes I’m her baby.)

My last assignment was about analyzing a short story which happens to be “The Birthmark” you can find it in this link > http://www.online-literature.com/poe/125/

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The Birthmark is a short story written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The story discussed human against nature and religion or science. The main character is Aylmer a scientist who leaves his glory behind him once he gets married to a beautiful bride Georgiana. Soon after their marriage Aylmer noticed a mark on his beautiful bride’s face –it was a small birthmark in the shape of a hand- later on he became obsessed with this mark that he started to have nightmares about it; that saddened his wife, she went to him and asked him to remove this mark and she didn’t care about the consequences. Aylmer took her to the apartment where he has his laboratory, he showed her his inventions then he left her for a while.  Later Georgiana realized that he’d bee examining her but she didn’t care. She also found a book where he keeps a record of what he had been doing; she figured that all of his work failed at some point but that doesn’t shake her beloved husband’s picture in fact she worships him more. At the end Aylmer made his wife drink a potion that will remove the mark that cursed their life. The mark disappeared and Aylmer’s happiness is restored but Georgiana said, “You have rejected the best the earth could offer.” Then she passed away. I’ll discuss the characters and my point of view in the upcoming paragraphs.    

Aylmer represents the “science” side of the story, the side that defies all the rules. After reading Pygmalion (mythology), Aylmer’s and Pygmalion’s thoughts are similar where both of them want what they can create, in other words what they desire. Pygmalion wanted to marry what he sculptured (his creation) and Aylmer is already in love but he wants it to be perfect, he’s unable to gaze at the flawless parts of his love. He’s ready to do anything so just to remove the mark even if it’s going to hurt which it doesn’t but it leads to the end of her life. Aylmer is the human’s mind that can be viperous when it runs after mortal matters. We see that part through Aylmer’s nightmare “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.” He didn’t worry about her life, he targeted the mark and the price was her life.

Georgian represents the “Nature” side of the story. The side that always ends as the victim of the science (at least that’s what Hawthorne’s showed us in the story.) Georgiana grew up believing that the mark is a charm, “To tell you the truth it has been so often called a charm that I was simple enough to imagine it might be so.”  And lot of her admirers wanted to rest their lips on that part of her but she was left in shock when she knew that her husband abhors that “charm”

Georgiana isn’t the typical obedient wife, she’s smart, and she appreciates him because she has the picture of “smart perfect husband” in her mind. Georgiana chose to believe what she saw in front of her everyday just like Plato’s theory; you get used to and believe that what’s represented in front of your eyes whether it’s real or not. Georgiana’s blind love made her believe that this mark is ugly and disgustful, and that is exactly what her dear Aylmer saw. Then finally we got to witness what happened to the beautiful side of the story that was ruined by the hands of monstrous science.

Hawthorne wrote this story demonstrating the nineteenth century. He didn’t focus on Aylmer that much other than the side of showing his disgusting part, the writer chose to do that because that’s how shallow humans think. They refuse to discover beauty and what it holds, their entire focus surrounds the defect; just like how Aylmer was dedicated on removing the mark and turned his back to the other picturesque parts of Georgiana’s like her eyes or lips (not that it’s mentioned)

The bitter part of the entire story is that we get to see it every single day. Some people are ready to do anything such as sacrificing beliefs just to fit in or be loved more by a certain person. It’s not related to women only because we can see men go through the same pressure that’s called “Seeking perfection.” I can go on saying that no one should ever feel that way about him/herself because all of us want to be perfect for someone. I’m shocked from the conclusion that I came to, at least now I believe and agree with what I’m saying. I’m with the idea of making a change to reach a point of satisfaction but I’m against changing what’s in because when that happens change becomes an act of hypocrisy.

Georgiana agreed with an action that cost her life but I believe deep down in her she realized that she was wrong but it didn’t matter because she wanted to be perfect for her husband “You have rejected the best the earth could offer.”

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Hope and Love 

Maitha the Parrot

Shahd, I can't thank you enough for everything you offered me. All I can do is try my best to make you proud. I'm grateful for having you around.