Abstract This paper is about the main character in Hawthorne's story "The Birthmark." The paper deals with Aylmer's quest to perfect nature through science. It includes an explanation of the significance of the allusion to Pygmalion in the story. The essay concludes with a look at the irony of Aylmer's wife being the one to realize the "truth" of the futility of the quest while her husband was the one who wanted to acquire the wisdom of the gods.
From the Paper "Aylmer, in Hawthorne's 'The Birthmark,' is described as a 'man of science' who wishes to 'lay his hand on the secret of creative force and perhaps make new worlds for himself' (359). The latter phrase drives Aylmer's ambitions and demonstrates his obsession with garnering power of the gods for himself. Convinced of the imperfection and the limitations of Nature, Aylmer shudders at the very thought of another 'hand' being pressed upon his precious wife's cheek. Aylmer, like Pygmalion, Prometheus, and Shelley's Victor Frankenstein, is interested in stealing the art of creating perfection; however, his perfection, unlike Pygmalion's statue brought to life, signifies death to an already living, breathing, and perfect creation of Nature. Georgiana's 'corruption' is not due to a birthmark, nor is it solely physical in nature by the story's end; she was neither doomed nor damned at conception, but rather by the expectations of her obsessive, imperfect husband of science."
Abstract Through setting, mood, plot, and character development, Hawthorne explores the dark world of alchemy in Aylmer's laboratory. This paper discusses how Aylmer's attempt at perfecting a beautiful creature of the earth teaches us that boundaries not only exist between man and nature, but that they should also be respected.
From the Paper "This setting of "The Birthmark" serves as the perfect backdrop for the tale, taking place in the "latter part of the last century" (Hawthorne 600). Aylmer is a "man of science, an eminent proficient in every branch of natural philosophy" (600). While Aylmer was married man, it is difficult to assume that he was completely normal. In a time when the "mysteries of Nature seemed to open paths into the region of miracle, it was not unusual for the love of science to rival the love of woman in its depth and absorbing energy" (600). This key passage gives us insight into Aylmer's character. We know that while Aylmer is married, he is also very passionate about science. Nature, the narrator tells us, is on the brink of miracles, and this mentality is one that captures Aylmer and holds him like a prisoner."
Abstract A discussion of the role and effectiveness of Parliament during the reign of Elizabeth I. The question is asked whether the Parliamentary opposition and power in the 17th century, leading up to the English Civil War, have its roots in the position of the Parliament under Elizabeth?
From the Paper "Sixteenth-century Tudor government had three main strands, the Crown, the Council, meaning the Privy Council, and Parliament. Each possessed varying degrees of power, and the extent of that degree was often dependent on the person of the monarch and the amount of control he or she was willing or able to exercise. While Parliamentary authority developed during the later years of the reign of Henry VIII, Elizabeth took a much firmer hand. Parliament was called infrequently, was limited in the nature of the issues it was allowed to discuss, and was often led by the clients of the nobility into areas which had little bearing on its own members and those they represented. The organized Parliamentary opposition of the "Puritan Choir' has been shown to be a myth, as we will discuss later, and during Elizabeth's reign Parliament probably reached its point of least independence of the century. The real power in England was held by the Privy Council and, ultimately, by the Queen herself."
Abstract A paper which analyzes two stories, "The Birth Mark" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, about a dedicated scientist who marries a beautiful woman who has a physical defect, and his fanatical desire to remove this flaw, and "A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner, a story sometimes regarded as symbolic of the changes in the South during the representative period.
From the Paper "Thus, throughout the story, the author has painted verbally the portraits of a tragic woman, Emily, which through his images; one observes her transformation from a virginal victim to a manly murderess to a corpulent dead body. Faulkner, however, also expose the interior density through external appearance, using both imagery and structure by putting together along with dispersed image and information throughout the story to amalgamate and interpret the diverse shades of Emily's character.
Furthermore, at the end of the story, the author contrasts the pictorialization of a kind Emily resting peacefully on her funeral with a plain image of love and loss, a strand of iron-gray hair resting on the yellowed pillow of an weak and powerless bridal bed. This haunting image is the final pen stroke murmuring the tribute of her tired and worn out."
Abstract Individuals define society. History recognizes the importance of individual members of society who stand out for good or bad reasons. Where would society be without individuals such as Abraham Lincoln or John Wilkes Booth? The paper explains that the first individual receives praise for saving a nation and ending slavery, the other became famous for the assassination of the first. No one would know who John Wilkes Booth was if it had not been for Lincoln's uniqueness in society. The individuals, the heroes, the villains, the loners, and the outcasts help define those societies that produce them. The paper shows that "Rip Van Winkle" by Washington Irving and "The Birthmark" by Nathaniel Hawthorne are two stories about individuals that defined a society by their difference. "Rip Van Winkle" provides a story that relates to the American Revolution and the freedom from tyranny. "The Birthmark" explores the issue of how much humans can change nature and what the consequences of such attempts are.
From the Paper "The story of Rip Van Winkle represents the changes of American society during the Revolutionary War. There is sense of the old tyrannical government of Britain present in Dame Van Winkle. The death of Dame Van Winkle is symbolic of the end of the Revolutionary War. Rip, like America, escaped from the oppressive rule of another."
Abstract "The Birthmark" by Nathaniel Hawthorne and "The Mortal Immortal" by Mary Shelley are stories that deal with mystery and love. The predominant theme in each story focuses on the dangers of unexplored science. Additionally, both authors employ elements setting, mood, plot, and character to enhance their themes. This paper examines how Hawthorne and Shelley use these techniques to craft incredible stories.
From the Paper "Additionally each plot centers on the hope that a mysterious elixir will improve one's place in life. Aylmer is convinced that he can correct what nature made imperfect by removing Georgiana's birthmark. He becomes so obsessed with it that Georgiana has little choice in the matter. Similarly, Wenzy is provoked by the "Jealousy, with all its venom, and all its misery that consumed him" (Shelley). The pursuits of science and the false promise of the future heavily influence both situations. "
Abstract This paper discusses how "The Birthmark" explores the notion of how religion and science can become confused when man oversteps his boundaries in the universe. It explains that Hawthorne successfully combines these two aspects through language, which serves to be the perfect foundation for discovery.
From the Paper "An example of how Hawthorne confuses science and religion with language can be seen when Aylmer tells his wife that her birthmark is a "visible mark of earthly imperfection" (601). In addition, we also know that Aylmer selected the mark as "the symbol of his wife's liability to sin, sorrow, decay, and death"(601). Here we see how Aylmer couples the mark with original sin and it is safe to assume that if he can remove it from her, she will be prefect not only physically but spiritually as well. Aylmer becomes consumed with the mark and even dreams of removing it. In his dream, he uses a knife to remove the mark and "the deeper went the knife, the deeper sank the hand, until at length its tiny grasp appeared to have caught hold of Georgiana's heart" (603). Aylmer is trying to make something spiritual out of something physical. Here we see how early in the story Hawthorne is linking religion with science to emphasize Alymer's obsession. In fact, his passion at times to take on a religious fervor. Another example of this can be seen when Aylmer speaks of removing the mark in terms of something like a miracle."
Abstract This paper discusses the literary works of author, Nathaniel Hawthorne. The paper focuses on three of his writings, "Wakefield", "The Birthmark" and "The Minister's Black Veil". The paper explains how Hawthorne's most favored characters are those that are happy with their lot. The paper claims that if the protagonists in each of these stories had left their happy lives alone, the negative experiences that they endure certainly may have been avoided. The paper contends that the theme of Hawthorne's works may hence be that people must love and cherish what goodness they have and never expect to transform that goodness to greatness.
From the Paper "It is evident in almost all works of literature that the author of the work favors certain characters. It is not a coincidence that the characters whom Nathaniel Hawthorne favors practically always fair well (as much as Hawthorne will allow of his characters-- Hawthorne's ironic style leaves his stories appropriately devoid of heroes and victories.) Although there are no fairytale endings, the protagonist who makes decisions that Hawthorne does not respect virtually never triumphs. (When he does succeed, it is not a victory worth celebration.) Rather, he punishes those who are compelled by greed to improve their already happy lives. This trend is especially apparent in three of Hawthorne's works: "Wakefield," "The Birthmark," and "The Minister's Black Veil." It is this curiosity about a better life that Hawthorne discourages in his stories."
Abstract This paper discusses several of the themes in "The Birthmark," by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The writer explores how Hawthorne creates a complex story about the human psyche from the themes of the conflicts between science and nature, and between man and science. The paper also discusses the themes of morality, love, obsession, and madness. The writer concludes that obsession is ultimately the cause of Aylmer's and Georgiana's tragedy.
From the Paper "It was not Aylmer's disgust for his wife's birthmark that drove him to commenting on it and calling for its removal, it was his love for science and his need to prove that he could make something that nature made even better. In the very beginning of the story it states that Aylmer didn't even mind the birthmark until after they had been married. "Masculine observers, if the birthmark did not heighten their admiration, contented themselves with wishing it away, that the world might possess one living specimen of ideal loveliness, without the semblance of a flaw.""
Abstract This paper discusses how, throughout the story "The Birthmark", Hawthorne tells us that Puritan zeal is an evil and dangerous attitude, whether it is manifested through the capitalist's zeal for technological progress, or through the transcendentalist's zeal to spiritualize all acts and objects. The paper then endeavors to go beyond the simple interpretation which says that it is only a cautionary tale about science. It looks at how the protagonist is more truly characterized by Puritan zeal and how Hawthorne's protagonist is a scientist because the materialistic aspirations of the age had a large investment in science.
From the Paper "We must first consider the Puritan heritage of America, which is an abiding theme in Hawthorne's work as a whole. The Puritan forefathers has brought with then an intense Calvinist faith, which was instrumental in forming the character of the new nation. The central tenet of this faith was 'sole fide', or 'justification by faith alone'. Calvinism was a reaction against the institutional basis of Catholicism, and therefore aimed to establish a personal communion with God, the only means to which was faith in Jesus Christ, and in the Bible as the words of God addressed directly to the believer. The Calvinist doctrine implied predestination, so that the believer is marked out by being in a state of grace. Only with grace are the words of God meaningful, and it is through the Bible that God establishes communion with the believer, and therefore confirms to believer that he or she is without sin."
Abstract In this article, the writer contends that, in the "The Birthmark", Hawthorne is telling us that Puritan zeal is an evil and dangerous attitude, whether it be manifested through the scientist's zeal for absolute knowledge, or through the transcendentalist's zeal to spiritualize all acts and objects. The paper then endeavors to go beyond the simple interpretation which says that it is only a cautionary tale about science. The writer maintains that instead of being representative of experimental science, the protagonist is more truly characterized by Puritan zeal. The writer also shows how the story draws its inspiration from 'fairyland', and how its message is transmitted largely through allusion.
From the Paper "The birthmark of Georgina also serves as a symbol around which the story revolves. To Aylmer it is a consciously perceived symbol that signifies the limitations of the flesh. It reminds him that, however young and beautiful his wife appears to him, the youthfulness and beauty is subject to death and decay. He feels that without the birthmark there would be nothing to remind him of earthly imperfection, and the thought is the seed to a bolder contemplation that earthly matter is subject to perfection. When he imagines her without the birthmark he sees a picture of material perfection, and it spurs him on in the belief that science has the mean to perfect base matter. He has thus slipped from the realm of science into that of Alchemy, whose stated object is to transform base lead into pure gold. Aylmer's mistake is to misread the symbolic significance of the birthmark. If it truly denotes death and decay, it must also serve as a reminder that vigorous physical frame on which it appears depends on the blemish for its very existence."
