Symbols.
The Birthmark- Georgiana’s birthmark symbolizes mortality. The narrator indicates that her small, red, birthmark that resembles a human hand represents her, and humanity’s, flaws; and that is what makes us human- the inability to achieve perfection. Unfortunately Aylmer, Georgiana’s husband and a scientist, is disgusted by her one imperfection and eventually convinces his wife, to the point that she would rather die than live with the birthmark any longer, that he must remove it. This aversion to her birthmark could stem from his belief that it symbolizes death. He wrongly assumes that if he can get rid of the birthmark, it will mean that he has the power to prolong life indefinitely. The shape of the birthmark, a human hand, causes the reader to imagine that God (or in the short story, a fairy or mother nature), while creating Georgiana intentionally marked her face with a symbol of humanity and imperfection. This is supported by the description of the birthmark in which Hawthorne says is “deeply interwoven” with Georgiana’s face; symbolizing again that flaw is a key part of humanity’s character and cannot be separated. Unfortunately that is exactly what Aylmer attempts to do; subconsciously he even dreams that the birthmark reaches as far as her heart and that he must cut it away at all costs. This reinforces another symbolization the birthmark holds for Aylmer- that the tiny flaw could represent evil and sin inside of her.
-Anna Powell
-Anna Powell