What does the birthmark symbolize in the story?

Georgiana’s birthmark symbolizes mortality. According to the narrator, every living thing is flawed in some way, nature’s way of reminding us that every living thing eventually dies.

What is the message of the birthmark?

‘The Birthmark’ focuses on the theme of obsession, particularly the moment when love becomes an obsession, making it dangerous—and even deadly, shown in Aylmer’s obsession with the birthmark and Georgiana’s obsession with Aylmer to the point of willing suicide by poison.

What literary device is used in the birthmark?

Foreshadowing and Suspense Hawthorne employs heavy-handed clues with his use of foreshadowing in “The Birthmark.” For example, Hawthorne establishes the interconnectedness of the birthmark and Georgiana herself.

What does Aylmer represent?

By making Aylmer a symbol for the mind and then showing how dangerous it is when the mind operates independent of morality, Hawthorne warns us that unchecked ambition without regard for morality will result only in disaster and death.

Who is the villain in the birthmark?

Aylmer
If Aylmer is the villain of the story, Georgiana is the heroine. She acts as society says she should, trusting her husband absolutely, and her only reward for her obedience and deference is death.

What does Aylmer represent in The Birthmark?

Indeed, he goes out of his way to make Aylmer a fantastical, nonrealistic being. By making Aylmer a symbol for the mind and then showing how dangerous it is when the mind operates independent of morality, Hawthorne warns us that unchecked ambition without regard for morality will result only in disaster and death.

How does The Birthmark relate to our society?

In our society people go to extreme lengths to achieve perfection. The ‘Birthmark’;, written more than a century ago, is an early version of our modern obsession with physical perfection. Society manifests its obsession with physical perfection by having surgical procedures done on daily basis.

How is envy personified in the birthmark?

Hawthorne also uses personification in his work. He posits, “Had she been less beautiful-if Envy’s self could have found aught else to sneer at-he might have felt his affection heightened” (Lauter 1370). Here he personifies envy stating that ‘he’ (envy), could have ‘felt his affection heightened’.

What is the fatal flaw in the birthmark?

This is the case for Aylmer in the birthmark. Within the short story, Aylmer’s fatal flaw of obsession and a smattering of fate lead to Georgiana’s death. Aylmer must create perfection, he had been striving to do so for most of his adult life, he had always failed to reach his goal.

What is Aylmer’s flaw?

Aylmer is not satisfied with an earthly, ordinary love – he dreams of something greater. Of course, it is just this something greater that really gets out Aylmer into trouble. We’ve got him off the hook for superficiality, but we still have to deal with his big character flaw: ambition.

What is the summary of the birthmark?

The Birthmark Summary & Analysis. LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Birthmark, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. In the late eighteenth century, a great scientist named Aylmer takes a break from his experiments to marry a beautiful woman named Georgiana.

What is the first mention of Aylmer’s birthmark in the novel?

The very first mention of the birthmark occurs when Aylmer asks about its possible removal, foreshadowing the rest of the plot. Aylmer exhibits a willingness to openly criticize his wife, and he makes it clear that he highly values perfection.

What does Hawthorne say about the birthmark?

Hawthorne calls the birthmark ‘a token of human imperfection;’ he also noted that nature marks all her creations with some such flaw. And this flaw is special.

Can I read ‘the birthmark’?

You can read ‘The Birthmark’ here before proceeding to our summary and analysis of Hawthorne’s story below. The protagonist of ‘The Birthmark’ is Aylmer, a ‘natural philosopher’ (what we would now call a ‘scientist’), who is revered throughout the scientific community for his genius.