Nathaniel+Hawthorne

Alymer is the main character in the story. He is a brilliant scientist who believes in man’s ultimate control over nature. He also thinks that there is nothing that a man cannot master or achieve. Shortly after getting married to his one true love, Georgiana, Alymer becomes fixated with wife’s only imperfection, a birthmark on her cheek. The birthmark is shaped like a tiny hand. Despite Alymer’s opinion of this mark, Georgiana has always been told by those that loved her that this marking was indeed a gift from God. She did not see this as an imperfection. She accepted it as a part of herself, and didn’t even notice it when she looked at herself in the mirror. Alymer loves his wife, and sees her as a beautiful woman, with one, and only, one flaw; her birthmark. He wants to do everything within his scientific power to remove it. He will go to extreme measures to do whatever it takes to rid his lovely wife of this dreadful birth stain. As Alymer obsesses of this mark, Georgiana begins to do the same. She loves her husband dearly, and just wants to make him happy. She is willing to do what is necessary to have it removed despite the risks involved explained to her by Alymer. Alymer hires an alchemist, Aminadab, to assist with his experiment. Aminadab tells Alymer that if this were his wife he would not remove the mark of beauty. Alymer insists that they proceed and Aminadab fails numerous times. Alymer then takes matters into his own hands and creates what he calls the perfect elixir. Georgiana willingly drank the elixir and to Alymer’s delight the birthmark begins to fade. However, the experiment quickly goes array, and Georgiana begins to cry to Alymer that she is dying. Alymer suddenly realizes that there is nothing he can do to save her. As he watches her take her last breath, he realizes the mark is now gone. Perfection – Eyes of the Beholder Perfection is not an easy word to define. What one person perceives as perfection, another may see as anything but. In __The Birthmark__ Alymer clearly views Georgiana’s birthmark as an imperfection, despite her evident beauty inside and out. He was so focused on that blemish on her face, that he could no longer see her natural beauty. He would go to great lengths to rid her of her imperfection, costing Georgiana her life. It seemed as though Georgiana was raised in a loving environment. Those who loved her made her realize how beautiful she was, particularly with the charm on her cheek. She seemed like a once confident young lady, but after marrying Alymer, she also became focused on her blemish because he constantly made her aware of it. And because she thought so highly of him, in fact he was nearly perfect in her eyes, she would agree to have her birthmark removed, despite all costs. The science that takes place in this story is incredible for this time period. It was fairly new back then and some many scientists thought they could change the world with it including Alymer. Today is the same way, each day new science discoveries are revealed. For example cloning, many scientists believe they can achieve perfection by cloning. This goes along the same lines as what Alymer tried to do with his wife. He wanted to achieve perfection and he used science to help and he ended up killing his wife. The cloning discussion that is taking place today some people don’t agree with it just like Aminadab didn’t agree with what Alymer was doing. Science is a great thing in the world but sometimes it may go too far. Maybe god had a reason for Georgiana’s birthmark. And maybe in this day and age god makes everything different and nothing perfect for a reason.
 * Levi Rentzel **
 * __ The Birthmark  __**
 * Nathaniel Hawthorne **
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