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‘The Birthmark’ was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne during the Age of Enlightenment, in which the subject of science was ridiculously prevalent, as it was believed that science could take anyone anywhere, they wanted to go just by doing their best. This caused science and the scientific method to begin to be seen by people as something magical and even began to be glorified by many. This story expresses the popularity that science came to have, as well as exposes the limits that science has by demonstrating the consequences that can be reached by the obsession of wanting to dominate nature. According to the story, there are certain things that we humans do not have the capacity to do, for this simple fact is that we are not given the necessary tools to succeed. It is simply dangerous to try to be or to confront God, who is alluded to by nature. “Science is not unequivocally evil; however, it is dangerous in isolation from the other influences of human society, including sexuality, work of all kinds, and family relationships. It is dangerous because of the speed at which it progresses, an incredible pace that far exceeds the cumbersome pace of social and moral change” (Hawthorne, 517).
‘The Birthmark’ focuses on the conflict Aylmer develops between science and Georgian nature. Aylmer’s desire to achieve perfection in his wife’s face becomes an ambition that leads him to use his scientific knowledge to change that imperfection that stops her from being completely perfect. Although Georgiana’s birthmark was something that she carried from birth, it wasn’t until she met Aylmer’s that she became self-conscious about her unique mark, which Hawthorne considered a mark to keep her an ‘earthly being’.
“It was not unusual for the love of science to rival the love of woman in its depth and absorbing energy” (Hawthorne, 1). In analyzing the way Aylmer grows extremely obsessed with Georgiana’s birthmark, there comes a point where his love for Georgiana comes into question, for despite his physical appearance, Aylmer does not care about his beloved’s feelings and instead seeks only scientific triumph and victory over nature. It is more than obvious that Aylmer loves science and does not hesitate to use his skills and knowledge to manipulate the creations of nature, even though this includes the well-being of his wife and his marriage. The story shows how before Aylmer noticed Georgiana’s birthmark, he already had an obsession with altering nature, as it is mentioned how it changes the life cycle of plants and his idea of creating an elixir of life that would make the drinker immortal. In which he shows a little fear and respect for nature as he tells Georgiana why even if he could create that elixir, he does not realize it as it goes against nature. But this changes throughout his journey through science as he is confronted with his wife’s birthmark, his ambition begins to blind him, and his desire to change that imperfection increases. “Even Pygmalion, when his sculpted wife assumed life, did not feel an ecstasy greater than mine” (Hawthorne, 19).
Pygmalion is a figure from Greek mythology who carefully and ambitiously sculpts the perfect woman in ivory and then falls in love with her. Since the perfect woman has been physically created, the Greek gods decide to turn her into a real being so that Pygmalion could enjoy her in the flesh and be a happy couple. This goes against nature from the human body to feelings of love. The relevance that this story has with ‘The Birthmark’ is when we think of Aylmer’s complex and his need to become the creator of his wife who can rival nature.
Normally, Aylmer excludes all signs of nature from his laboratory, even replacing the natural sun with chemical lamps. However, in the murky moment when the birthmark disappears, he opens a curtain and the sunlight falls on the now ‘perfect’ Georgian. And it is now that a feeling of satisfaction grows within Aylmer, as well as regret, at seeing his wife vanish along with her imperfect birthmark. Although the word ‘God’ is not mentioned in the story, Hawthorne adds symbolism and alludes to religion with nature as it refers to the divine. In the traditional Christian view, God created the natural world. Therefore, in working to change nature, Aylmer also tries to change God’s creation. In the worldview of this story, science does not arise from natural processes but works to override them. Aylmer’s scientific intervention results in Georgiana’s death, which means that scientists must not overstep their bounds and go against what nature – and God – has intended it to be in a certain way.
Within the literature, a universal theme is man’s quest for scientific advancement and knowledge and its effects. In the story of ‘The Birthmark’, Aylmer’s quest to free his wife from her imperfection through science shows the reader how naive and narrow a man can be. Just because someone has the power or the knowledge to do something does not always mean it has to be done.
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