Striving Perfection. Must to Err Is Human.

¶ … striving perfection. MUST To err is human. Although somewhat of a cliche, the aforementioned aphorism, like most aphorisms, contains a great deal of truth. Humanity is rooted in fundamental flaws whether they are of body, mind, or perhaps even of spirit. This notion is explored in detail in masterful raconteur Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story "The Birthmark." There is an innate striving of perfection on the part of a couple in this tale -- and particularly on the part of the husband.

In hoping to gain an earthly view of perfection, however, the pair encounter more than a few surprises along the way. There are several elements within this tale -- its characterization, plot, and theme -- which strongly imply that Hawthorne is denoting his opinion about some of the fundamental principles of human nature. Ultimately, however, the conclusion of this tale and an examination of the diction throughout indicate the simple notion that mankind is flawed, and to expect anything else from it is a flaw in and of itself.

The basic premise of this story is that there is a scientist named Aylmer who is one of the most learned and accomplished men in his field. Contrary to his nature -- which is largely entrenched within the pursuit of scientific research -- he marries an extremely beautiful and desirable woman named Georgiana. Georgiana's beauty is impeccable save for one 'love mark', a sanguine birthmark on her cheek which comes to increasingly agitate her husband and disturb their relationship.

Aylmer develops an almost foolish fascination with this birthmark so much that his wife develops a similar preoccupation with it and is would rather die than go on living with it. Aylmer believes that it is within his earthly power to remove the birthmark, and that in doing so he can create a vision of total perfection in his wife. However, after a lengthy period of experimentation he is able to remove the birthmark -- whereupon which Georgiana unceremoniously dies.

The end of "The Birthmark" readily confirms the fact that mankind is innately flawed, and to attempt to actualize perfection in a person is an ideally equally as flawed. At the conclusion of the story, Aylmer believes he is at the moment of his greatest triumph. After laboring long and hard over the potions that will rid his wife of her birthmark, he has finally administered it to her. Moreover, the potion appears to work and is in the process of vanishing the birthmark from her face.

However, a close analysis of the diction in what is actually the final moments of Georgiana's life reveals the fallacy of such an attempt on the part of Aylmer. In her final words, Georgiana says, "My poor Aylmer!" murmured she. "Poor? Nay, richest, happiest, most favored!" exclaimed he. "My peerless bride, it is successful! You are perfect!" "My poor Aylmer, she repeated, with a more than human tenderness, you have aimed loftily; you have done nobly.

Do not repent that with so high and pure a feeling, you have rejected the best the earth could offer…I am dying!" This passage proves that perfection is not possible within mankind. Even with her birthmark, Georgiana states that she is the "best" that humankind can create in terms of physical beauty. She also proclaims that Aylmer was dissatisfied with the perfect imperfection of her beauty.

However, the most revealing part about this passage is that in eliminating Georgiana's birthmark, and thereby rendering her without flaw, Aylmer has only succeeded in killing her. The implication of this fact is that there are no perfect people, and that in creating one who is physically "perfect" as Aylmer boasts, Georgiana dies to reinforce the notion that there can be no imperfect people.

The basis for Hawthorne's premise that perfection is not possible within people (which is why Georgiana dies once she is made physically perfect) has to do with the subservience of the earth and its creations to that of the celestial and its creations. Quite simply, Hawthorne posits the notion that perfection is found within the latter, and is fleeting if not outright non-existent in the former.

The author elucidates this dichotomy in carefully contrived sentences in which the low, the base, things of the earth are compared with the ethereal or the spiritual, which is where perfection really exists. One such moment in which he makes this idea clear is when Georgiana is reading from Aylmer's science journal in which he as recorded all of his experiments, his success and failures.

While perusing through his journal Georgiana sees how strongly that her husband is actually striving to achieve perfection, not only in her but within his work as well. After viewing this manuscript she Hawthorne writes that "Her heart exulted, while it trembled, at his honourable love so pure and lofty that it would accept nothing less than perfection nor miserably make itself contented with an earthlier nature than he had dreamed of." This passage contrasts the flawlessness of spiritual things with the lowliness of earthly things.

As such, it is highly important that it is Aylmer's love which is "pure." Love is certainly a manifestation of the spirit and is ethereal in quality.

This love is polarized with Georgiana's body, which is imperfect with its birthmark and described in this passage as "earthlier." Thus, in this passage the author makes it quite clear that the only true perfection is found within the spirit and its manifestations (such as love), while things of the earth and its manifestations (such as the flesh and Georgiana's body, for example, are inherently flawed.

Another extremely eminent way in which Hawthorne alludes to the imperfection of humanity and things of the earth is through the characterizations of Aylmer and his servant Aminadab. Whereas the former is a scientist of a cultivated mind and intellectual prowess who longs for perfection, the latter is a mere lackey, only good for following orders and who has very few discernible thought processes of his own. Aminadab is someone who represents the pinnacle of mankind's lower nature, its earthiness and the circumscriptions of its physical shell.

There is no perfection in Aylmer's assistant. At the same time,.