Aylmer's Dream In 'The Birthmark' By Nathaniel Hawthorne

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“The Birthmark” Analysis Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote the short story, “The Birthmark.” The narrator of this story introduces Aylmer, who is a smart philosopher. Aylmer set aside much of his time to marry the love of his life, Georgiana. After awhile of being married, Aylmer informed her that she should get rid of the birthmark on her cheek and by doing so, she would be perfect in his eyes. This news shocked Georgina; she was upset that her husband thought of her that way. Aylmer spent all of his time in the lab with his partner, Aminadab, trying to create a potion for Georgina to take to get rid of the birthmark. This story is based around the conflict of removing the birthmark on her cheek and trying to reach perfection. One night as she is lying in bed, Aylmer brings in the potion, he is positive this will remove it. Georgiana drinks the potion; her husband watches…show more content…
Georgiana's imperfections are a huge part of who she is, and for Aylmer to think he could cut away at the birthmark without destroying her is a disgrace. Even though Aylmer knew the outcome he still went ahead and created the potion to remove the birthmark off of her face. In Aylmer’s dream in order to remove the birthmark, he needed to cut so deep with the knife and end of catching hold of Georgiana’s heart. Aylmer’s dream is a symbol found in the story and represents the theme because all of the dreams he is having are about removing her birthmark in order for her to be perfect in his eyes. It is foolish of him to think that he could remove the birthmark without destroying her and who she really is. He knows that removing the birthmark will result in her death. Clearly, it is not humanly possible to “reach perfection.” Each person has his or her own flaws and the imperfection is what makes each individual person

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