The Birthmark Essay -- essays research papers fc

&65279 A Story of hunch over and ScienceA Story of Love and ScienceNathaniel Hawthorne is a nineteenth century AmericanNovelist whose works are deeply concerned with the ethicalproblems of sin, punish handst, and atonement (Adams 168). The NewEngland writer also handles the romanticistic theme very well and is amaster of historical fiction. Hawthorne was a descendant of oneof the judges at the Salem witch trials, and he suffice many of hisworks in Puritan New England and during early crises in Americanhistory (Encarta).The Birthmark, like many of Hawthornes stories deals withthe relationship between men and women. It is a love story wherethe quest for perfection leads to a tragic end. The protagonist,a scientist named Aylmer, attempts to attain perfection for hisnew wife Georgiana, by removing a birthmark resembling a smallhand from her left cheek. Written in 1843, it was Hawthornesfirst work of fiction right after he married his wife, Sophia(Encarta). This adds learning to the story in a way that Hawthornecan relate to it in a more direct manner. It was written duringthe Old Manse period in Hawthornes life (July 1842 to October1845) when he was becoming interested in the place in society ofthe artist. In The Birthmark Hawthorne finishes by givingcredit to the flaws and imperfections of serviceman nature. The story shows Hawthornes opinion that some things thatwere created by God cannot be changed. This can be seen from anarticle in the American Magazine of Useful and entertainKnowledge in 1836 where he stated the Creator has absolutelydebarred mankind from all inventions and discoveries, the resultsof which would counter act the general laws, that He hasestablished over merciful affairs, (Adams 169). In The Birthmark, Hawthorne uses the obsession of thescientist Aylmer who wishes to combine the love he has forscience with the love for his wife. Aylmer sees the birthmark onhis wifes cheek of an imperfection and a symbol of mansmortality. Aylmer is desc ribed in terms of high praise, praisefor his aspiration toward the infinite, for his pure andhonorable love that will accept nothing little than perfection(Jones 193). Aylmers effort in removi... ...st die, as Georgiana does.In The Birthmark Hawthorne presents a love story thatbrings forth the larger idea of mans quest for perfection. Heconcludes that the perfect love and the perfect wife cannot beattained through mans own actions. Hawthorne used his knowledgeof transcendentalism to put forth the idea that man could use hisknowledge and abilities to overcome nature. The storys tragicending shows that science cannot change mans basic nature andthat some things should not be messed with. Love and sciencesometimes do not mix. Works CitedAdams, Richard. N.p. n.p., 1958. Rpt. in Short StoryCriticism. Ed. Sheila Fitzgerald. Vol. 3. Detroit Gale,1989. 169-170Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Celestrial railway system and Other Stories. New York Signet, 1963.Jones, Madison. Variations on a Hawt horne Theme. Studies in Short Fiction. 15.3 (1978) 227-83Nathaniel Hawthorne. Microsoft Encarta Encylopedia 99. CD-ROM. N.p. n.p, 1999.Wohlpart, James. Allegories of Art, Allegories of HeartHawthornes Egotism and The Christmas Banquet. Studiesin Short Fiction. 31.3 (1994) 449-95.