Essay on Aylmer's Obsession: Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'The Birthmark'.

Introduction

The Birthmark is one of the short stories written by Nathaniel Hawthorne that is centered on Aylmer's obsession to remove his wife, Georgiana's birthmark. Aylmer is a knowledgeable scientist who left his scientific experiments to his helper to get married to Georgina, who is a beautiful woman (Hawthorne 10). Men and women have different opinions and perceptions towards this reddish birthmark, with some men finding the mark attractive on her cheek despite Aylmer finding it shocking (Hawthorne 11). Aylmer is ready to apply his scientific prowess to eliminate the mark and make Georgina look perfect. Aylmer is obsessed with removing this mark, as he perceives it as a symbol of sins, death, and distress (Hawthorne 12). To satisfy her husband's wishes, Georgina is ready to undergo the scientific process to get rid of the mark. Aylmer makes the draught concoctions, which he gives Georgina in order to remove the mark (Hawthorne 21). However, the mixture leaves Georgina dead despite succeeding in removing her birthmark.

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Theme: Obsession

Obsession is one of the main themes that emerge in this story. This theme is revealed through the two main characters in the story, Aylmer and Georgina. To begin with, Aylmer is obsessed with removing the birthmark on Georgina's cheek in any way possible. This leads him to disregard Georgina's feelings and wishes towards the birthmark and the process of removing it. He is determined to see the mark off using his scientific knowledge to make his wife look beautiful rather than shocking. Aylmer's obsession is intense such that it blinds Aylmer to see and appreciate other beautiful aspects of his wife. Besides, Georgina had been telling him that majority of the men find her attractive with the birthmark, but Aylmer's obsession with removing the mark does not allow him to see the beauty that these men are seeing in his wife.

Moreover, Aylmer is obsessed with perfection. Notably, Aylmer asks his wife whether she has ever thought of removing the small birthmark on her cheek, as that was the only thing that kept her from being perfectly beautiful (Hawthorne 11). He tells his wife that the mark makes her look shocking to him and is determined to help her remove the mark using his scientific knowledge. Aylmer's obsession with making her look perfect leads him to trust that his draught concoctions would help him actualize the removal of the mark. Hawthorne notes that this leads Aylmer to assure Georgina, "I am convinced of the perfect practicability of its removal" (Hawthorne 13). This implied that Aylmer had a scientific plan and a way of removing that mark and make Georgina look perfect. The obsession for perfection made Aylmer look stupid to the extent of not considering the dangers that the concoctions and portions would have to Georgina. Hence, his search for perfection of her wife using scientifically prepared portions and draught concoctions ended up killing his wife.

Hawthorne also demonstrates the theme of obsession through Aylmer's obsession with science. The author introduces Aylmer as a proficient scientist who had gathered and amassed scientific knowledge from different natural philosophical branches due to his obsession with science (Hawthorne 10). Aylmer used his proficiency in science to attract Georgina. Before their marriage, Aylmer had been doing several scientific experiments and left it to his assistant temporarily for him to get married. The obsession in science drives him to think that he can make a concoction that can overcome a natural birthmark on his wife's cheek and make her flawless. Aylmer even confesses that the mark on his wife's face has made him more obsessed with science in an attempt to find a scientific solution to her birthmark. Aylmer's scientific obsession had made him an expert in making different portions that produced different aromas as well as creating beautiful sceneries in the secluded apartment. However, the passion was dangerous as it made him overconfident in removing the mark. The author demonstrates Aylmer's confidence in his scientific skills by presenting him, telling Georgina, "I even rejoice in this single imperfection since it will be such a rapture to remove it" (Hawthorne 16).

The author also demonstrates the theme of obsession through Georgina. She presents Georgina as overly obsessed with Aylmer's love and affection to the point of listening and doing whatever he wants and desires. Her obsession becomes toxic as it makes her live a sad and distressing life because of the single imperfection on her cheek, which her husband could not condole (Hawthorne 11). In addition, Georgina is obsessed with pleasing and becoming attractive and perfect in the eyes of her husband, which makes her disregard her beauty despite other people appreciating her and telling her how beautiful she looked with the birthmark. The obsession with pleasing Aylmer pushes her to yield on his demands to remove the mark through his scientific methods. In addition, the obsession makes her trust the concoctions and lotions he gives her to remove the mark, which instead of making her perfect causes her death.

Works Cited

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. Young Goodman Brown and Other Short Stories. Courier Corporation, 2012.