Motifs.
Red and White- The narrator uses the color white to represent Georgiana's perfection, only marred by the crimson red birthmark on her face. The skin around the birthmark is compared to snow and marble, both beautiful, natural things, while the birthmark is a an ugly crimson red, representing flaws in her beauty, as perceived by Aylmer. The narrator thinks Georgiana’s birthmark and the red and white shades of her face make her more beautiful, not less, putting the narrator in direct opposition to Aylmer's opinions. In general, the birthmark is red and Georgiana’s skin is white, but red and white sometimes mix when she blushes, mostly caused by Aylmer's utter disdain for her mark. When she blushes her skin turns the same color as the birthmark, suggesting that no clear line exists between Georgiana’s beauty and the one flaw, despite Aylmer's opinion.
Aylmer (Higher Power), and Aminadab (Man)- While most of the motifs in this story is centered around Georgiana, it is not limited to her. Aylmer and his lab assistant, Aminadab, represent the divine and the earthly aspects of man. In many situations, Aylmer is described as having god-like qualities, while Aminadab is described as a brute. This contrast reflects the central conflict in the story: the conflict between perfection and human imperfection. Aylmer makes claims about himself that lead the reader to believe he has powers beyond the realm of human capability. He tells Georgiana not to doubt his power, which may give him the ability to "… create a being less perfect". He claims the ability to "… prolong life for years, perhaps interminably." Later, when describing his knowledge, he says "no king on his guarded throne could keep his life if I, in my private station, should deem that the welfare of millions justified me in depriving him of it." Aylmer is supposed to symbolize god, and Aminadab becomes a symbol for human beings, saying "…the indescribable earthiness that incrusted him, he seemed to represent man's physical nature" Aminadab is the only character in Hawthorne's story who possesses no desire to "perfect" Georgiana. Aminadab laughs at Aylmer's desire to "perfect" Georgiana, his laughter being the triumph of human nature over higher nature in the end.
The Boudoir- Georgiana's boudoir, the deeper meaning of which is a motif throughout the second half of the short story, is where Aylmer secludes Georgiana for the period of her treatment. This motif represents heaven as created by the "god" that is Aylmer. The descriptions of the boudoir are all strangely ethereal and draw clear parallels with heaven, saying, "for aught Georgiana knew, it might be a pavilion among the clouds, "and Hawthorne's descriptions of the boudoir are all strangely ethereal and devoid of natural sunshine. He replaces it with perfumed lamps that emit flames of various hues, but all uniting to create an empurpled hue to this boudoir. Aylmer takes playing god to a new level, replacing the natural world with his own ideal reality, just as he attempts to do with Georgiana.
- Emily Lindsey
Aylmer (Higher Power), and Aminadab (Man)- While most of the motifs in this story is centered around Georgiana, it is not limited to her. Aylmer and his lab assistant, Aminadab, represent the divine and the earthly aspects of man. In many situations, Aylmer is described as having god-like qualities, while Aminadab is described as a brute. This contrast reflects the central conflict in the story: the conflict between perfection and human imperfection. Aylmer makes claims about himself that lead the reader to believe he has powers beyond the realm of human capability. He tells Georgiana not to doubt his power, which may give him the ability to "… create a being less perfect". He claims the ability to "… prolong life for years, perhaps interminably." Later, when describing his knowledge, he says "no king on his guarded throne could keep his life if I, in my private station, should deem that the welfare of millions justified me in depriving him of it." Aylmer is supposed to symbolize god, and Aminadab becomes a symbol for human beings, saying "…the indescribable earthiness that incrusted him, he seemed to represent man's physical nature" Aminadab is the only character in Hawthorne's story who possesses no desire to "perfect" Georgiana. Aminadab laughs at Aylmer's desire to "perfect" Georgiana, his laughter being the triumph of human nature over higher nature in the end.
The Boudoir- Georgiana's boudoir, the deeper meaning of which is a motif throughout the second half of the short story, is where Aylmer secludes Georgiana for the period of her treatment. This motif represents heaven as created by the "god" that is Aylmer. The descriptions of the boudoir are all strangely ethereal and draw clear parallels with heaven, saying, "for aught Georgiana knew, it might be a pavilion among the clouds, "and Hawthorne's descriptions of the boudoir are all strangely ethereal and devoid of natural sunshine. He replaces it with perfumed lamps that emit flames of various hues, but all uniting to create an empurpled hue to this boudoir. Aylmer takes playing god to a new level, replacing the natural world with his own ideal reality, just as he attempts to do with Georgiana.
- Emily Lindsey