The Birthmark Paper

A detailed Summary of The Birthmark Paper

Matthew Longman Thursday, October 25, 2001

In Nathanial Hawthorne's short story, the Birthmark, he tells a story about a scientist, who believes he is more creative and skilled than Mother Nature herself, and his wife Georgiana. In the short story, Georgiana's birthmark is representative of her soul because of several examples and instances in the story. There are several points in the story that imply her soul is linked to her birthmark. For example, the way Aylmer acts towards Georgiana, the way others act and feel towards her, also the way Georgiana feels about it herself, and several quotes in the story. Hawthorne expresses these ideas very well and on several occasions.

In the beginning of the story, Hawthorne shows the level of desire at which Georgiana is held. He describes how the birthmark "left this impress there in token of the magic endowments that were to give her such sway over all hearts. Many a desperate swain would have risked life for th

In the later part of the story, in a conversation between Aylmer and Georgiana before she drinks the serum, Georgiana speaks of how important she thinks it is to get rid of the birthmark. When Aylmer looks at the birthmark on Georgiana's face, it is so hard for him to grasp the concept of imperfection that he shudders. Georgiana says, "Oh, spare me! Pray do not look at it again. I never can forget that convulsive shudder." She wants to please Aylmer and be rid of the birthmark, or die. She feels her birthmark is a part of her, she says "Alas! It was true! The fatal hand had grappled with the mystery of life, and was the bond in which an angelic spirit kept itself in union with a mortal frame." By stating that her "crimson hand" is linked with her soul, she is letting the reader know just how important the birthmark is and how great of a loss it would be for her.

Georgiana sees the way Aylmer thinks of her and her birthmark. She understands that Aylmer disappr

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 658
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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