¶ … small, crimson birthmark on Georgiana's cheek represents humanity and its inherent flaws. It defines Georgiana as an individual, as a human. Aylmer saw the birthmark as a symbol of Georgiana's earthly mortality, and as "a symbol of his wife's liability to sin, sorrow, decay, and death." Georgiana is seen as a perfect specimen of beauty, except for the birthmark. Without the birthmark Georgiana would be perfect at a divine level, but its presence gives her undesirable earthly qualities. Her inner and outer beauty is marred by the birthmark, which distracts Aylmer from noticing and appreciating her positive qualities. The birthmark does have a connection to Faith's pink ribbons and Hester's scarlet letter in the way that they are all symbols of humanity. They all represent the way imperfection is a necessary human quality. To be flawless is to be inhuman. The hand shaped birthmark puts a grip on Georgiana's life, and she feels her whole existence should depend on the disappearance of the mark. Hawthorne is making the point here that people tend to pay undue attention to flaws and ignore positive traits, often at great expense.

4: Aylmer had an obsession with science and the perfection of mankind beyond an earthly level. He had a passionate love of science and believed he could conquer any obstacle through the use of his mind and skills. Aylmer's failure in the laboratory to successfully and safely remove Georgiana's birthmark represents his failure as a husband and as a decent human being. This failure shows how an obsession with superficial perfection results in a degradation of humanity. Aylmer had the confidence that he could play God and rid Georgiana of her earthly imperfection in order to make her divine.

His failure to do so after taking drastic measures symbolizes the misdeed in attempting to conquer or change the essence of humanity, which is imperfection.