Analysis of The Birthmark by Nathaniel Hawthorne Essay -- Nathaniel Ha

Analysis of The Birthmark by Nathaniel Hawthorne Although The Birthmark by Nathaniel Hawthorne was written in the mid-1800s, its themes and ideas are silent a part of society today. The 19th century was a time of change, just as this, the millennium, is a time of great change. Hawthornes ideas about science, beauty, and life still play a major part in our lives, despite many improvements. Even today, people try to play God and change things that nature has frame in in place. Its human curiosity how much can be changed, how many things can be perfected? The themes in this short story-- religion, gender, and science--were relevant in Hawthornes day, and still are many years later. The theme of religion is hidden in the desire to erase the birthmark. In trying to perfect Georgiana, Aylmer is test Gods creation. He doesnt believe that how God created Georgiana is perfect, and he is obsessive about making her his idea of perfection. Aminadab, Aylmers servant, tries to tell his master t o retire from the birthmark alone. He tells Aylmer that if Georgiana were his wife, he wouldnt worry about something so trivial. However, the scientific ideas on Aylmers mind wont let him stymy the birthmark. He believes he can remove it with the help of science. Even so, science has no part in creation, according to Hawthorne, and Georgianas death after the remotion of the birthmark signifies that theory. Her death is Hawthornes way of showing that judgment and perfection are Gods duti...