The Birthmark Essay -- essays research papers fc

&65279 A Story of Love and accomplishmentA Story of Love and ScienceNathaniel Hawthorne is a nineteenth snow AmericanNovelist whose works are deeply concerned with the ethicalproblems of sin, punishment, and atonement (Adams 168). The NewEngland writer also handles the ro adult maletic theme very easy and is amaster of historical fiction. Hawthorne was a descendant of oneof the adjudicate at the Salem witch trials, and he set humansy of hisworks in Puritan New England and during early crises in American archives (Encarta).The nevus, like many of Hawthornes stories deals withthe relationship between men and women. It is a love story wherethe quest for perfection leads to a tragic end. The protagonist,a scientist named Aylmer, attempts to attain perfection for hisnew married woman Georgiana, by removing a birthmark resembling a smallhand from her left cheek. Written in 1843, it was Hawthornesfirst work of fiction right after he marry his wife, Sophia(Encarta). This adds depth to the story in a way that Hawthornecan touch base to it in a more direct manner. It was written duringthe Old mansion period in Hawthornes life (July 1842 to October1845) when he was becoming raise in the place in society ofthe artist. In The Birthmark Hawthorne finishes by givingcredit to the flaws and imperfections of human nature. The story shows Hawthornes opinion that both(prenominal) things thatwere created by God can non be changed. This can be seen from anarticle in the American Magazine of Useful and EntertainingKnowledge in 1836 where he stated the Creator has absolutelydebarred mankind from all inventions and discoveries, the resultsof which would counter moment the general laws, that He hasestablished over human affairs, (Adams 169). In The Birthmark, Hawthorne designs the obsession of thescientist Aylmer who wishes to combine the love he has for light with the love for his wife. Aylmer sees the birthmark onhis wifes cheek of an imperfection and a symbol of mans mortality. Aylmer is described in terms of high praise, praisefor his inspiration toward the infinite, for his pure andhonorable love that will accept nothing little than perfection(Jones 193). Aylmers effort in removi... ...st die, as Georgiana does.In The Birthmark Hawthorne presents a love story thatbrings forth the larger idea of mans quest for perfection. Heconcludes that the perfect love and the perfect wife cannot beattained through mans own actions. Hawthorne use his knowledgeof Transcendentalism to put forth the idea that man could use hisknowledge and abilities to overcome nature. The storys tragicending shows that science cannot change mans basic nature andthat some things should not be messed with. Love and sciencesometimes do not mix. kit and caboodle CitedAdams, Richard. N.p. n.p., 1958. Rpt. in Short StoryCriticism. Ed. Sheila Fitzgerald. Vol. 3. Detroit Gale,1989. 169-170Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Celestrial Railroad and Other Stories. New York Signet, 1963.Jones, Madison. Variations on a Hawthorne Theme. Studies in Short Fiction. 15.3 (1978) 227-83Nathaniel Hawthorne. Microsoft Encarta Encylopedia 99. CD-ROM. N.p. n.p, 1999.Wohlpart, James. Allegories of Art, Allegories of HeartHawthornes Egotism and The Christmas counterpane. Studiesin Short Fiction. 31.3 (1994) 449-95.