Aylmers Struggle for Perfection in Nathaniel Hawthomes, The Birthmark

Aylmers Struggle for Perfection in Nathaniel Hawthomes, The BirthmarkAylmers struggle for scientific perfection transcends human possibility in Nathaniel Hawthomes The Birthmark. He attempts to perfect that which nature rendered imperfect. When the necessitate for human achievement opposes divine design it has no chance of succeeding. This key element in Aylmers twisted love leads to the demise of what he seeks so desperately to perfect, his beautiful wife. Georgiannas fatal flaw of humanity (Hawthorne 167), the birthmark, blocks her from perfection in his eyes, and thus blemishes Aylmers prideful ideals. Her alleged inferiority to science leads to her death and Aylmers complete failure as both a scientist and a spouse. From the beginning of The Birthmark, Hawthorne describes Aylmer as a man with some degree of physical finery that alludes to perfection ... cleared his fine countenance ... (164). He is described as a man with a passionate and ardent interest in science in fact, he devotes almost his entire flavor in this pursuit. He had devoted himself... too unreservedly to scientific studies ever to be weaned from them... (165). This scientific background shows that Aylmers love for Georgianna is his due south passion (165). Georgianna comes second in his pursuit of happiness whereas science could be called his first love. He becomes obsessed with the idea of changing his beloved to suit his fancy. Georgianna possesses a mark upon her cheek, barely a cause for concern to the average human. The mark is deeply interwoven ... with the texture and substance of her face (165). The minuscule mark is crimson and in the fishy shape of a tiny hand. It changes with Georgiannas moods. When she is rosy che... ...horne Question. New York Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1963. Brooks, Cleanth and Robert Penn Warren. Interpretation of the Birthmark. Donohue 185-188. Fogle, Richard Harter. Hawthornes Fiction The Light and the Dark. Norman University of Oklahoma Press , 1964. Heileman, P, B. Hawthornes The Birthmark Science as Religion. Donohue 180-195. Rucker, bloody shame E. Science and Art in Hawthornes The Birthmark, Nineteenth atomic number 6 Literature 41 (1987)- 445-61. Wagoner, Hyatt H. Hawthorne A Critical Study. Cambridge Belknap Press, 1963. Weinstein, Cindy. The Invisible Hand Made Visible The Birthmark. Nineteenth Century Literature.. 48 (1993), 44- 73. Zanger, Jules. Speaking of the Unspeakable Hawthornes The Birthmark. Modern Philology A Journal Devoted to Research Medieval and Modem Literature. 80 (1983) 364- 371.