Analysis of The Birth Mark Essay - 1177 Words

In â€Å"The Birthmark† the relationships and behaviors of the character reveal much more than the story itself does. The characters of Aylmer, Georgian, Amenidab and Nature itself, through their words, actions, and behaviors give insight into a much more meaningful story. A deeper analysis of the characters reveals that they are archetypes, and as archetypes they provide a deeper hidden meaning to the story. By looking at Aylmer, Georgiana, Amenidab and Natures relationships and actions throughout the story we can see how they are used to give deeper significance. The character of Aylmer can be seen as a sinister, mad scientist who constantly fights with nature in order to attain human perfection. From the beginning of the story Aylmer’s†¦show more content†¦Once again this shows Aylmer is not concerned about his wife but rather his victory of nature itself. Aylmer’s true motives can be seen at the end of the story after he has given Georgiana the liquid that supposedly will take the mark away. â€Å"’Matter and spirit-earth and heaven-have both done their part in this! Laugh, thing of the senses! You have earned the right to laugh’† (Hawthorne 231). This shows Aylmer’s moment of ecstasy as he seems to have defied nature and begins to laugh in the face of nature itself. This undirected, almost insane laughter shows Aylmer’s true motive of defying nature and creating perfection through science. The archetype of Georgiana can be seen as the perfect women, however, her birthmark acts as a symbol of imperfection and mortality that keeps her from fully pleasing her husband. Georgiana is described as beautiful and perfect except for one flaw, the birthmark. â€Å"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 painà ¢â‚¬  (Hawthorne 220). The hand-shaped birthmark can be seen as her being touched by nature and acts as a symbol of imperfection and mortality in humans. The symbol of the birth-mark standing for mortality can be seen again towards the endShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Poem The Birth Mark Essay1076 Words   |  5 PagesHolly Hardin Professor Austin-Bolt LIT 2341 12 October 2016 Title In Nathanial Hawthorne’s short story â€Å"The Birth-Mark,† the use of symbolism is heavily portrayed. Although the birthmark is the most prominent symbol in the story, it is not the only one that Hawthorne used. 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