The Birthmark by Nathaniel Hawthorne

“THE BIRTHMARK” by NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE
The 'Birthmark' written more than a century ago by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is an early version of our modern obsession with physical perfection.In examining today's society, it is easy to see that humans are obsessed with perfection. This obsession may be for physical perfection, emotional perfection, or career perfection. Unlike today's society, where perfection is sought by the person directly involved, the character in this work seeks perfection in the one he should love without condition. The character becomes so obsessed with creating perfection that he sacrifices true happiness. Therefore, we can say that "The Birthmark" explores a very deep theme : man's attempts to transform nature in order to make it more perfect than it already is.
Although “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne was written in the mid-1800s, its themes and ideas are still a part of society today. “In the late eighteenth century, that is where the story is set, science was still somehow connected with magic.”(1) And Aylmer's 'science', could be called alchemy, which is somewhere between science and magic. It can be claimed that Aylmer, the scientist in "The Birthmark," is very much a product of this age of invention. Alymer may be a scientist or he may be a magician. One thing we know: he's in pursuit of control. He seeks dominance.
The story begins with a scientist who finds a bride. As the story opens the newly married couple is still making discoveries about one another. As a man of perfection, Alymer’s love for Georgiana and decision to marry her is based on the fact that she was nearly perfect. However, This bride, Georgiana, has a birthmark on her face that Aylmer wants to remove. Aylmer believes the mark is a sign of imperfection on a beauty but Georgiana believes it to be a blessing. After time Aylmer sees a dream and Georgiana asks her husband of his dream about the birthmark. The dream has Aylmer and his assistant removing the little hand...