Perfection and Spiritual Blindness in Hawthorne's "The Birthmark"

Introduction: Science, Nature, and the Pursuit of Perfection

In "The Birthmark," Hawthorne explores the theme of science versus nature — but ultimately the story is about one man's inability to accept anything less than perfection from his spouse. The protagonist, Aylmer, is a scientist obsessed with perfection who sees the birthmark on his wife's cheek as a blemish that must be removed. He spends all of his time and energy trying to find a way to remove it, even though his efforts inevitably cost her life. He becomes a man consumed by the need to erase the symbol of imperfection, unable to see his wife as a full human being; he sees only the birthmark, which doubles as a hideous symbol of Original Sin in a spiritual sense. In contrast, his wife, Georgiana, is content with the way she looks and regards the birthmark as a part of her identity. The story suggests overall that the human condition suffers from a spiritual imperfection and that it is folly to try to remedy this through natural arts or sciences.

Aylmer's Faith in Science Over Transcendence

Hawthorne states clearly at the beginning of the story that Aylmer is more a man of science than a man of faith. Hawthorne writes that Aylmer "had devoted himself, however, too unreservedly to scientific studies ever to be weaned from them by any second passion" (1). Aylmer's love, in other words, lies in human knowledge. He is not someone who has submitted himself to a higher, transcendental way of being — unlike his wife. Georgiana reflects a transcendental spirit in her approach to him, submitting herself willingly because she sees beauty in that submission.

Georgiana's Submission and Aylmer's Spiritual Failure

Aylmer should be moved by his wife's absolute trust to feel compassion for her and to accept her as she is. Yet he cannot — because he lacks any sense of transcendental value. He also lacks a genuine understanding of human nature and its inherent frailty. He symbolizes a kind of spiritual Puritanism (Scheer). He sees her birthmark as sin made flesh: "Selecting it as the symbol of his wife's liability to sin, sorrow, decay, and death, Aylmer's somber imagination was not long in rendering the birthmark a frightful object, causing him more trouble and horror than ever Georgiana's beauty, whether of soul or sense, had given him delight" (Hawthorne 3). Yet Georgiana gives herself up entirely to her husband, placing herself in his hands. If his science should be pushed to its extremes — even to the point of killing her in the attempt to remove the mark — she accepts that outcome with saintly submission.

Conclusion: Obsession, Blindness, and the Cost of Perfection

Aylmer's wife eventually dies because of his obsession, which drives him to use dangerous methods to remove the birthmark. Hawthorne suggests that obsession with perfection can cause spiritual blindness, leading people to do more harm than good. The story argues that human nature carries a kind of spiritual imperfection at its heart, and that the proper way to transcend this imperfection is through virtue — not through any attempt to manipulate or override nature. Aylmer's wife understands this truth intuitively, but that understanding comes at the ultimate cost.

Works Cited

Gatta, John. "Aylmer's Alchemy in 'The Birthmark.'" Philological Quarterly 57.3 (1978): 399.

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. "The Birth-Mark." Lone Star College, www.lonestar.edu/departments/english/hawthorne_birth-mark.pdf.

Scheer, T. F. "Aylmer's Divine Roles in 'The Birthmark.'" ATQ 22.3 (1974): 108.