Insecurity In 'The Birthmark' By Nathaniel Hawthorne

Uttering heartless words to a partner about their flaws is a reflection of one’s insecurity in the relationship. The short story “The Birthmark” gives readers insight into Aylmer, a questionable scientist who fails at experiments, and his wife Georgiana, an obedient wife who fulfills her husband’s commands. Aylmer is insecure and as a result denigrates Georgiana about her birthmark to purposefully make her despise the mark. Georgiana never thought of her birthmark as a flaw because men were enchanted by her fairy-like miniature hand with a shade of crimson. However, Georgiana being the good wife that she is, agrees to become her husband’s experiment to get the birthmark removed in order to make Aylmer happy. In this story it is evident that

Aylmer is obsessed over “fixing” Georgiana and needs a successful experiment to feel confident about himself. Aylmer becomes engrossed by Georgiana’s birthmark and devotes himself on a quest to remove her beauty mark.

The birthmark is a lingering thought on his mind from daylight till twilight that it somehow possesses over him. In his dream, Aylmer recollects, “. . . the deeper went the knife, the deeper sank the hand, until at length it’s tiny grasp appeared to have caught hold of Georgiana’s heart, . . . her husband was inexorably resolved to cut or wrench it away” (Hawthorne 3). Aylmer recognizes how hysterical the dream is and begins to feel guilty. It is clear that his dream can be seen as being deeply obsessed with the mark that surfaces across Georgiana’s cheek. Furthermore, Aylmer is so fixated on Georgiana’ s birthmark and is set on getting rid of it, that even Georgiana begins to get jittery. Aylmer expresses, “I have already given this matter the deepest thought--thought which might almost have enlightened me to create a being less perfect than yourself” (Hawthorne 3). Georgiana seems terrified over her husband’s thoughts, but refrains herself from telling him how insane

he sounds.
Aylmer has glorified Mother Nature throughout the story after his tedious youth, making discoveries in the fundamental powers of Nature and his admiration for Mother Nature was cultivated by the artistic work that was used to nurture mankind. Aylmer recalls, “. . . Nature assimilates all her precious influences from earth and air, and from the spiritual world, to create and foster man, her masterpiece” (Hawthorne 4). It is apparent that Aylmer views Mother Nature as a God in which he idolizes wholeheartedly. Adding, “. . . that our great creative Mother, . . . is yet severely careful to keep her own secrets, and, in spite of her pretended openness, shows us nothing but results” (Hawthorne 4). Aylmer believes that Mother Nature only offers favorable outcomes which he values dearly.
Aylmer is invested in his abilities as a scientist and philosopher and is obsessed with other’s opinions on his work.

Aylmer mentions, “I feel myself fully competent to render this dear cheek as faultless as its fellow; . . . what will be my triumph when I shall have corrected what Nature left imperfect in her fairest work!” (Hawthorne 3). Aylmer is confident and determined to prove he is capable of succeeding at an experiment to perfectly expunge Georgiana’s birthmark. The story narrates, “. . . for he was confident in his science, and felt that he could draw a magic circle round her within which no evil might intrude” (Hawthorne 4). Aylmer is predicting that his experiment will be the best anyone has ever seen and defines his idea as

magical.
In conclusion, Aylmer never cared for Georgiana the way a husband should care and seemed more dedicated to his work as a scientist than a husband. Aylmer is obsessed with perfecting Georgiana after failing most of his experiments and needs a successful experiment to feel assured. Aylmer used Georgiana for his own benefit and she suffered the consequences of his actions.