the birthmark

A detailed Summary of the birthmark


Our society tends to be obsessed with the idea of physical perfection. Why does our society manifest that obsession? How is "The Birthmark" an early version of our modern obsession with physical perfection? Nathaniel Hawthorne uses these questions to obsess Aylmer to construct a life threatening experiment on his beloved. This obsession shows how the thirst for scientific knowledge can be a dangerous and deathly course.

In the "The Birthmark", Georgiana and her husband Aylmer are searching for physical perfection, much like we do today. Georgiana was born with a crimson birthmark in the shape of a hand located on her cheek. One day Georgiana discovers that this birthmark "shocks" her husband and she is deeply bothered by it. Georgiana finally realizes this after Alymar says "Georgiana . . . has it ever occurr


Our society has many ways of manifesting its obsession with physical perfection. In our society people go to extreme lengths to achieve this perfection. The "The Birthmark", written more than a century ago, is an early version of our modern obsession with physical perfection. Aylmer tells Georgiana that the surgery will be a simple one, and that there is no way that it would fail. He does not tell her that his earlier experiments had failed, or about the dream he had. Aylmer says, " Dearest Georgiana, I have spent much thought upon the subject, and I am convinced of the perfect practicability of its removal." (13) Aylmer tells her that her mark is her one and only defect. All in all Georgiana is caught up with the fact that she can look perfect. Aylmer says to her, " whether to term a defect or a beauty, shocks me, as being the visible m

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 571
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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