In "The Birthmark" Aylmer becomes so obsessed with making Georgina perfect that it causes both their downfalls. He becomes so confident is his ability to mold and change nature that he acquires a God complex. Although the idea of religion is not a main idea in the plot, Hawthorne brilliantly uses language to convey his point:

...language which may be either literal or figurative but in either case has influential overtones. What we find recurrently in "The Birthmark," and therefore insistently asking to be taken into account, is the terminology and imagery of religion. Specifically religious problems are not overtly introduced into the story, but the language of religio

(Aylmer's) "sorcerer's book," Georgina insists to him, "has made me worship you more than ever." Aylmer's own confusion is shown further in his paradoxical inclination to adore as well as create: "the spectral hand wrote mortality where we would fain have worshipped." (Heilman, p. 191)

n is there for so unfailingly that, like iterative imagery in drama and poetry, it must be closely inspected if a final reading of the story is to be complete. (Heilman, p. 189)

Beatrice is the most victimized of all the characters in these three short stories. Her father, Rappaccini had created a garden so unnatural and his daughter was born that way too. Although he never seemed bothered in the beginning of the story, he clearly sees what terrible consequences his actions have caused when his daughter dies. Rappaccini is perhaps the most evil of the three scientists. He makes natural beautiful things evil and ugly, and when it backfires and affects his daughter, it doesn't bring about an epiphany:

Hawthorne brilliantly summarizes the metaphysics of the scientific religion in Aylmer's explication of the series of steps in his rehabilitation of Georgina. He tells her, "I have already administered agents powerful enough to change your entire physical system" is, in this cosmology, the equivalent of regeneration or conversion. Aylmer's faith becomes, in effect: improve the body, and you save the soul. (Heilman, p.191)

Only in death when it is too late does Rappaccini learn the consequences of his actions. Unfortunately, it is Beatrice who pays the price.

Aylmer and Georgina have shifted the focus from God and religion to science, including all aspects of what religion used to encompass. To stress the theme, Hawthorne even uses the same words we associate with religion to show how confused the characters are and how misplaced their faith is.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Rappaccini's Daughter, Aylmer Georgina, Dr Heidegger, Birthmark Aylmer, Georgina Aylmer's, Unfortunately Beatrice, Rappaccini Giovanni, Aylmer God, Dr Heidegger's, Heidegger's Experiment, dr heidegger, short stories, outer beauty, science religion, rappaccini's daughter, dr heidegger's, inner beauty, aylmer's sorcerer's book, heilman 189, beauty outer, religion science, dr heidegger's experiment, inner beauty outer, beauty outer beauty,
Approximate Word count = 1453
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)