Hawthorne's Use Of Foreshadowing In 'The Birthmark' By Nathaniel Hawthorne

In both his short story and his novel, Hawthorne uses the literary device of foreshadowing to intrigue the reader. Doing so creates an effect of suspense in the novel and encourages the reader the keep reading. Hawthorne uses a different form of foreshadowing in these two stories that include ambiguity. These sentences are placed at the beginning of the text, and clearly convey two contrasting themes/plots of the tale that follows. In The Birthmark Hawthorne introduces the rivalry between Aylmer’s love for science and Aylmer’s love for his wife by writing, “His love for his wife might prove the stronger of the two,” essentially giving away precisely what the story will consist of. We find later that Aylmer, the main character of The Birthmark,

attempted “intertwining” his two loves, resulting in the death of his wife. Hawthorne copies his own style in The Scarlet Letter when he is describing a rose bush outside of the prison doors. He indicates that it may “symbolise some sweet moral blossom,” or “relieve the darkening close of a tale of human frailty or sorrow.” Again, within minutes of beginning the novel, the reader discovers the outcome of the story. We may not know what ensues; however, we know that the story will either be a tale of good hope and morals or one that is based upon human weaknesses.