Powers Eve Tempted: Sculpture And The Birth-Mark

Journal critic, John Lammers, writes Powers’ Eve Tempted: Sculpture and ‘The Birth-Mark to discuss his perspective of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Birth-Mark” and how the famous Powers’ Eve Tempted sculpture parallels with the message of the story. Hawthorne’s short story delays the message of even the most perfect creation has flaws. Lammers concludes that Georgiana’s physical characteristic of a birthmark is an indication of her life. Hawthorne makes the birthmark intertwined within Georgiana’s heart, which gives her life. Lammers writes, “The narrator sees the birthmark as a sign of Georgiana’s “mortality” but also associates it with many apparently positive ideas.” (n.pag) Hawthorne’s character, Aylmer, recognizes the significance in Georgiana’s

Lammers writes, “Some fastidious persons—but they were exclusively of her own sex—affirmed that the Bloody Hand, as they chose to call it, quite destroyed the effect of Georgiana’s beauty, and rendered her countenance eve hideous. But it would be as reasonable to say, that one of those small blue stains, which sometimes occur in the purest statuary marble, would convert the Eve of Powers to a monster.” (38) Hiram Power’s Eve’s Tempted is a man-made sculpture, created by Hiram Powers. This prosperous sculpture is statue of Eve holding an apple, with Satan’s serpent positioned along her right leg. Lammers believes that Hawthorne’s religious content is to allow the audience to see that even the purest and momentous statue, delivering a significant message about life, can be observed to find the smallest imperfection. Georgiana’s birthmark parallels with Aylmer’s scenario of the small blue stains because both situations are discussed as a major flaw that is wanted to be perfected. However, attempting to perfect these flaws could destruct something with great intensions. Lammers says, “nature in its very full perfection … the model of woman, as she came from the hand of the Creator, before any accident of earth had tarnished perfection.” (n.pag) As Aylmer continues to criticize Georgiana’s birthmark, he is unaware of the harm and ruination he is

Lammers comes to the conclusion that “The Birth-Mark” is a symbolic short story that discusses societal preferences of relationships and the acceptance of the sculpture of life. People tend to desire to alter such things that were taken time out to create. Lammers summarizes Hawthorne’s short story by inferring the main points of sexual desires, characterization, and satisfaction. Powers’ Eve Tempted: Sculpture and ‘The Birth-Mark’ article criticizes Aylmer by informing readers that his motives for changing the looks of Georgiana was in a form of selfishness and personal desires. Lammer writes, “Thus Hawthorne seems to see and be sexually attracted to the “delectable” sexuality.” (n.pag) Lammers proceeds to his article by explaining that Hawthorne’s main idea for sexuality is a personal want. Georgiana’s husband, Aylmer, has this persistent thought of sculpting his wife into this ideal, sexual female statue. When thinking of the Eve Tempted sculpture, it constantly reminds readers that Hawthorne’s obsession with female nude statues reveals his perspective of Georgiana’s natural beauty. Lammers closing remarks results in readers seeing that Aylmer’s decisions have left Georgiana to pay for his sins and her sexuality with her own life. The concept of sin in the end of this article was discussed consequently, due to unaccepting the ways of natural