The Birthmark Symbolism

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The birthmark on Georgiana’s face symbolizes humanity. Hawthorne lets us know that it also equally representing her flaws. It is human nature to be mortal and imperfect; it’s okay because we’re all just human. He argues this belief in this story. Aylmer believes that the birthmark is hideous, and a major flaw in his wife. He considers it to be completely unattractive. This makes want to remove the birthmarks from Georgiana’s face completely. This represents humanity’s want to remove the flaws and replace it with perfection. Of course, in the ironic twist, Aylmer actually succeeds with removing the birthmark.

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Nathaniel Hawthorne Symbolism In The Birthmark

Analysis of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Birthmark Hawthorne’s short story The Birthmark invites several possible readings because of the use of its elaborate symbolism, and therefore it is easily open to interpretation of its figurative meaning. On a literal level, it is not that unusual that Aylmer considers the birthmark an unattractive cosmetic flaw and wishes it to be removed from his wife’s face. Domineering male ego in a heteronormative patriarchal world is not something new or surprising.…

Words 623 - Pages 3

Symbolism In 'The Birthmark' By Nathaniel Hawthorne

appearance, they would not sin. On the other hand, if they knew cleansing their sins would bring them to heaven, they would be promised eternal life. In “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Georgiana, one of the protagonists, realizes there is a way to release her sins and enter eternal life. In the short story, symbolism is present as the birthmark on Georgiana’s face represents her sins, Aylmer represents God, and both of those symbols lead to everlasting life in Heaven. One…

Words 1040 - Pages 5

Symbolism In Young Goodman Brown, The Birthmark

Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. Nathaniel Hawthorne is a romantic writer, who used symbolism to make stories effect each person differently and to leave his stories open for interpretation. Hawthorn uses symbols in Young Goodman Brown, The Birthmark, and Rappacinni's Daughter to give a deeper meaning to each story. Goodman Brown’s wife, faith is a symbol of faith. She symbolizes faith in God. When Goodman Brown tries to leave for his errand at night his wife explains…

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Symbolism In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Birthmark

marriage, his wife’s beauty and kindred spirit was not enough to make him forget her only defect "the crimson birthmark" which stood apparent on her cheek – a haunting awareness of his “wife’s liability to sin, sorrow, decay and death”, which also signifies Hawthorne's intention for it to symbolize human imperfection. Aylmer’s dark obsession for divine perfection was not long in rendering the birthmark a frightful object, causing him more trouble and horror than he had ever known. He could no longer accept…

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Perfection In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Birthmark

Perfection is something that many will obsess over but when has it reached its max. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s allegory, “The Birthmark, “ we are informed of a young couple, Aylmer and Georgiana. This piece of literature starts when we learn of a newlywed couple. Then soon it transpires into a husband's obsession with his wife's flaw, “The birthmark”. The birthmark is in the shape of a hand and is located on the wife's cheek. The young husband gets too wrapped up in fixing his wife that he forgets…

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The Birth Mark Symbolism

Nathaniel Hawthorne, a scientist named Aylmer attempts to remove a hand shaped birthmark off of his otherwise flawless new bride Georgiana. However, the story has a much deeper, teaching the reader that humans cannot be perfect in every aspect and our imperfections make us human. The deeper meaning, or the theme, of “The Birth-Mark” is revealed throughout the story in its symbols. The first symbol in the story is Georgina’s birthmark. In fact, this symbol is so important to the story, that Hawthorne tells…

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American Romanticism Essay

opposite of the American Romanticism movement. American Romanticism writers wrote about being “one with nature” while the Dark Romantics thought the complete opposite. The Fall of the House of Usher, the Birthmark and the Ministers Black Veil all represent American Romanticism with the use of symbolism. The first symbol that describes the American Romantic time period is in the Story “The Fall of the House of Usher”. The house itself. The house symbolizes the family line or "House of Usher”, because…

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Analysis Of Nathaniel Hawthorne's: Artist Of The Beautiful

short stories in the form of symbols with reflecting dark vision of human nature. Hawthorne frequently focused on Puritanism as an expression of humanity’s potential for cruelty, obsession, as well as intolerance. Nathaniel’s particular style of symbolism and fascination with the macabre brought influence into the stories of The Marble Faun, Artist of the Beautiful and The Blithedale Romance. During Hawthorne’s early years he did not do much writing in those times he was secluded. (152) Family…

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Week 2 Essay

preceded the writers emotions. Then we will reflect on each to determine defend, refute, or qualify each claim. “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne is an allegory and much of the allegorical meaning is derived through Nathaniel Hawthorne’s use of symbolism. Since Hawthorne is engaged in the telling of a moral tale, it is only fitting that many of the symbols in “The Birthmark” pertain to deeper allegorical meanings. For instance, the birth-mark that is shaped like a red hand on his wife's cheek…

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Personal Literary Analysis Essay

Bryan Miller English 101 Mrs. Woodard 18 May 2015 Alymer is an idiot. When given the opportunity to choose any of our readings for a personal literary response paper, I decided to go with “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne because it is an absolutely fascinating story of the lengths you will go to make the one you love happy and the pursuit of perfection. Honestly, I didn’t deeply identify with any of the major characters but I have learned that a story doesn’t have to intensely resound with…

Words 2007 - Pages 9