Comparing Symbolism In The Birthmark And Romero's Shirt

Symbolism plays a significant role in literature. Symbols can illustrate much deeper overarching concepts or reveal important traits in a character without explicit expression. This device may bring a character’s true motivation, views, or prejudices to light. Symbolism in “The Birthmark” and “Romero’s Shirt” gives great insight into not only character motivations, but also their protagonist’s views on life. In “The Birthmark”, Aylmer sees the crimson birthmark painted across Georgiana’s otherwise perfect face as a symbol of mortality as well as the impossibility of perfection — two things that he has struggled against in his scientific endeavors for the extent of his career. Although others see this mark as something unique and priceless, Aylmer notes it as “the fatal flaw of humanity which Nature, in one shape or another, stamps ineffaceably on all her productions, either to imply that they are temporary and finite, or that their perfection must be wrought by toil

He only cares about his own accomplishments, his own life, and his own ability to create “perfection” and evade the reality that he is only human. He treats Georgiana like an object, like a painting that he must complete, instead of a person that was whole from the beginning. In contrast with Alymer’s selfish motivations, the protagonist of “Romero’s shirt” works tirelessly not for his own desires, but for his family. Romero’s plaid shirt serves as the symbol of hope. It is “his favorite piece of clothing, which he’d bought right after the car and before his marriage because it really was good-looking besides being functional.”(219) It is one of his own, very few, material possessions. Even though time has blunted his faith in the future and he is ashamed of his lack of material wealth for his family, this shirt stands as a symbol of faith in the