The Birthmark by Nathaniel Hawthorne Theme Analysis
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THEMES AND SYMBOLS
IMPERFECTION
SCIENCE
THE BIRTHMARK
The theme of imperfection is implied in multiple ways. First with Georgiana’s birthmark, then later with Aylmer’s journal entries about his not-so-perfect experiments. Finally, in the end when Georgiana dies as a result of the quest for perfection, it is found that there is no such thing.
A universal theme is man's pursuit for scientific advancement and knowledge and its effects. Aylmer's quest to rid his wife of her imperfection through science shows the reader how naive and narrow-minded man can be. Just because someone has the power or knowledge to do something doesn’t always mean it should be done.
The birthmark is a symbol of man’s imperfection and also man’s mortality. The birthmark could be an allegorical symbol for man’s fall from Eden. Alymer thinks Georgiana would be the epitome of Godly perfection without it. All men are made in the image of God, but after Adam and Eve’s fall from grace, man was flawed.