Perceptions of Perfection

An obsession with perfection has been ingrained into human culture for years. Part of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s genius in his short story The Birthmark is that the concept of perfection continues to be a relevant topic which most people can relate with. In today’s society especially, people seek perfection through many techniques. Cosmetics, clothing style, body size, and even one’s choice of friends affect how we are perceived and judged by people and ourselves in relation to expectations of perfection.



Does human perfection exist? Aylmer believes it does, and that he can create this much sought human perfection by removing his beautiful wife Georgiana’s birthmark. “No, dearest Georgiana, you came so nearly perfect from the hand of Nature that this slightest possible defect... shocks me, as being the visible mark of earthly imperfection.” (Hawthorne 85) Because Georgiana is so agonizingly close to perfection, her birthmark causes Aylmer more aggression than if it were on a less beautiful woman. As the story progresses, Georgiana’s birthmark vexes Aylmer more and more. He ceases to see his wife’s beauty and becomes obsessed with the hand upon her cheek. “Aylmer’s sombre imagination was not long in rendering the birthmark a frightful object, causing him more trouble and horror than ever in Georgiana’s beauty, whether soul or sense, had given him delight.” (Hawthorne 86)

However, Georgiana’s other admirers do not see her birthmark as grotesque and revolting as her husband does. These suitors subscribe to the idea that ‘imperfection is perfection’, and still see Georgiana to be the beautiful woman that she is. “Many a desperate swain would have risked life for the privilege of pressing his lips to the mysterious hand.” (Hawthorne 85) These men, although unnamed and given no description, play an important role in The Birthmark because they illustrate to the reader that Georgiana’s beauty was appreciated by all men except her own husband.

Aminadab, Aylmer’s laboratory assistant, falls into the category of these admirers, stating “If she were my wife, I’d never part with that birthmark.” (Hawthorne 89) Aminadab represents nature and physical beings. Perhaps he sees Georgiana’s beauty because he is not blinded by societal norms; he is a man of the earth and not of judgements and complex judgements. His laugh at the end of the story shows that perhaps Aminadab, Aylmer’s servant, knew something that his master didn’t. Aminadab, as well as the other men, knew that Georgiana’s imperfection was what made her perfect. I think that The Birthmark is a timelessly important story, as judgements of looks and expectations of perfection run rampant in our society today, and Hawthorne challenges these societal norms.

Works Cited

Hawthorne,  Nathaniel. Selected  Short Stories of Nathaniel  Hawthorn.  New York:  Fawcett Premier, 1989. Print.