the birthmark theme essay

A Summary and Analysis of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s ‘The Birthmark’

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

‘The Birthmark’ is a short story by the nineteenth-century American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne, first published in 1843. Although not as well-known as ‘Young Goodman Brown’ or ‘The Minister’s Black Veil’, ‘The Birthmark’ is an intriguing tale which, like those more famous stories, contains ambiguous symbolism within its straightforward plot.

You can read ‘The Birthmark’ here before proceeding to our summary and analysis of Hawthorne’s story below.

‘The Birthmark’: plot summary

The protagonist of ‘The Birthmark’ is Aylmer, a ‘natural philosopher’ (what we would now call a ‘scientist’), who is revered throughout the scientific community for his genius. He is married to Georgina, who is praised for her beauty. However, Georgina has one glaring imperfection: her left cheek contains a birthmark or blemish, a small crimson mark in the shape of a hand.

Aylmer proposes to remove the birthmark so as to make his nearly-perfect wife completely perfect in every physical aspect. Georgina eventually agrees, trusting her husband’s talents, although she is initially hurt that he finds her birthmark so shocking to look at. She comes to the conclusion that she may as well risk the experiment, since she would rather die than continue to live with such a blemish, since it generates such horror in her husband.

Aylmer shows Georgina his laboratory where he conducts his experiments. She is later shocked when she finds his journal detailing the various experiments he has conducted, and vows to trust him when he experiments on her.

Aylmer, with the help of his servant, Aminadab, creates a potion which he demonstrates on a plant, bringing its leaves back to life. Satisfied that the potion will work, Georgina then drinks it down. She falls into a slumber, and Aylmer notices that, sure enough, the hand-shaped birthmark on his wife’s cheek is fading.

When she wakes up, Aylmer shows her that the birthmark has disappeared and he has been successful. However, his wife reveals that she is dying, and shortly after this she dies in front of him.

‘The Birthmark’: analysis

Like many of Hawthorne’s stories, ‘The Birthmark’ is, at bottom, allegorical: it is about the dangers of seeking perfection, especially human perfection, of all kinds, because to do so runs the risk of destroying what makes us ‘human’ in the first place. We use the phrase ‘you’re only human’ when someone acknowledges their own flaws or mistakes.

Georgina’s birthmark is a ‘flaw’ which makes her not only human, but the woman Aylmer married in the first place. It is deliberate on Hawthorne’s part that the birthmark only becomes a problem for Aylmer after he has married her.

The birthmark also represents Aylmer’s determination to use scientific means to change nature at all costs: at one point, he calls himself a ‘sorcerer’, and he has much in common with the older magicians in folklore and literature, such as Faust or that latter-day magician, Victor Frankenstein.

He views it as a challenge, his next great project, and is committed to removing it using his own ingenuity and experimentation. He is, in a sense, another fictional scientist playing God, using his powers to try to alter what God or Mother Nature have created. In the first paragraph of the story, Hawthorne tells us,

In those days when the comparatively recent discovery of electricity and other kindred mysteries of Nature seemed to open paths into the region of miracle, it was not unusual for the love of science to rival the love of woman in its depth and absorbing energy.

This not only shows how Godlike men like Aylmer consider themselves, and their powers, to be; it also brings together the two loves of Aylmer’s life, his love of Georgina and his love of science. But in many ways his love of science will not only ‘rival’ but come to supersede his love for his wife, since he is prepared to risk her life (as proves to be the case) in order to remove the birthmark from her face.

A birthmark, in being a cosmetic defect, poses no danger to Georgina’s own health, but his own horror at it, and determination to rid himself of the ‘shudder’ which it inspires in him, convinces her to let him remove it at any cost.

Indeed, Aylmer’s dream is revealing in that, as so often in literary works, it acts as a premonition. Early on in ‘The Birthmark’, Hawthorne establishes a link between Georgina’s outward appearance, including that hand-shaped birthmark, and her inner self, symbolised by the heart : he describes the blemish as a ‘mimic hand, now vaguely portrayed, now lost, now stealing forth again and glimmering to and fro with every pulse of emotion that throbbed within her heart’. Then comes his dream:

Aylmer now remembered his dream. He had fancied himself with his servant Aminadab, attempting an operation for the removal of the birthmark; but the deeper went the knife, the deeper sank the hand, until at length its tiny grasp appeared to have caught hold of Georgiana’s heart; whence, however, her husband was inexorably resolved to cut or wrench it away.

Despite this warning, Aylmer – supported by Georgina – remains determined to find a way of ridding his wife of this blemish, with the inevitable tragic results. He has triumphed in a scientific sense, but he has failed in a bigger one.

Indeed, if we wished to reduce ‘The Birthmark’ to a single ‘moral’ (a dangerous thing to do, but a handy ‘way in’ to the story), we could do worse than to summarise it as being about the dangers of focusing too much on one problem without taking into account the broader context of that problem.

Aylmer’s monomaniacal focus on his wife’s birthmark blinds him to her otherwise beautiful features, and he is not unlike the proverbial man who found a rat in his house so burned the place to the ground. In seeking to destroy one unwanted detail, he unwittingly destroys all of the things around it which he loved and treasured.

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The Birthmark

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Summary and Study Guide

Summary: “the birthmark”.

“The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) was initially published in the March 1843 edition of The Pioneer , a short-lived literary periodical which was also the first to showcase Edgar Allan Poe’s famous “The Tell-Tale Heart.” “The Birthmark” was later serialized in Mosses From An Old Manse , a collection of Hawthorne’s short stories, in 1846. Widely considered to be one of the preeminent American writers of the nineteenth century, Nathaniel Hawthorne enjoyed a career trajectory fairly typical of his day. He started by concentrating exclusively on short stories before later moving on to the longer novel form. He is perhaps best known for these latter works, most famously The Scarlet Letter , but his short stories played a pivotal role in guiding the nineteenth century’s titanic shift from gothic horror to science fiction. “The Birthmark” represents both of these genres, and it is also considered a seminal work of dark Romanticism . It is in the public domain and is available by open source. This guide refers to the online version offered by Project Gutenberg.

The story’s protagonist , Aylmer , is a scientist who lives during an exciting time in “the latter part of the last century” (Paragraph 1). Electricity has just been invented, as well as various other methods through which men can control the natural world. But despite Aylmer’s engagement with his work—and its tantalizing potential to discover “the secret of creative force and perhaps make new worlds for himself” (Paragraph 1)—he decides to seek out a wife. He marries Georgiana , and while he dearly loves his new bride, he is equally devoted to his scientific studies. He might come to love her more someday, the narrator explains, but only if their marriage might somehow meld with his love of science.

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Soon after their marriage, Aylmer becomes increasingly troubled by a birthmark on Georgiana’s cheek. He asks her if she has ever considered having it removed. Georgiana replies that she is used to men perceiving the eccentricity as a positive characteristic, but Aylmer doesn’t agree. Georgiana’s face, he argues, was created nearly perfect by nature; even the slightest possible defect is “shocking.” Georgiana is deeply hurt by his comment. She is convinced that Aylmer “cannot love that which shocks [him]” (Paragraph 6).

Georgiana’s birthmark , located in the center of her left cheek, is red and shaped like a small hand. It blends in with her skin when she blushes, but stands out when she is pale. It appears to be “deeply interwoven […] with the texture and substance of her face” (Paragraph 7). Georgiana’s supporters say that she must have been touched by a fairy when she was an infant. Other woman, jealous of her incredible beauty, claim the birthmark spoils her and renders her ugly. For his part, Aylmer wishes the birthmark didn’t exist because it mars the “one living specimen of ideal loveliness” (Paragraph 7). Georgiana’s perfection in every other aspect makes Aylmer increasingly intolerant of the birthmark. For him, the birthmark comes to represent “the fatal flaw of humanity which Nature, in one shape or another, stamps ineffaceably on all her productions” (Paragraph 8).

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Aylmer becomes increasingly obsessed with the birthmark, and Georgiana increasingly notices his disgust. His disapproval causes her to go pale, and her birthmark becomes much more visible. Upset, she asks Aylmer if he remembers a dream he’d had the night before. With some effort, he finally does: he dreamt that he and his servant, Aminadab , had tried to remove birthmark via an operation, but the deeper Aylmer cut, the further down he found the hand to reach, finally discovering that it was firmly wrapped around Georgiana’s heart. Instead of deterring Aylmer, the dream only makes him more determined to cut the birthmark out, despite his guilt about how far he might go to remove it, and at what cost. Georgiana claims she is willing to take on any danger necessary in the name of removing it, as she cannot stand Aylmer’s horror of her. Aylmer agrees to try and kisses her cheek—the one without the mark.

They decide to perform the operation in the laboratory where Aylmer had made many natural discoveries before, including some involving the workings of the human body. He was deterred from this line of experimentation, though, by unspecified failures. In the lab, Georgiana faints when Aylmer intends to comfort her, but he cannot help shuddering at the sight of her birthmark. He calls his servant, Aminadab, to assist him. Aminadab is a large man with shaggy hair that is smoky from the lab; the narrator contrasts his physicality with Georgiana’s “pale, intellectual” appearance, which has a “spiritual” element. Aminadab comments that were Georgiana his wife, he would leave the birthmark alone.

Georgiana wakes up in an area of the laboratory which Aylmer has redecorated to resemble a lovely apartment, fitted with several perfume lamps. The effect is magical; Aylmer is confident, feeling that he “could draw a magic circle round her within which no evil might intrude” (Paragraph 28). He calms her with pleasant optical illusions and distractions; his stories are scientific in origin, but they have a magical air about them. He presents Georgiana with a perfect flower and encourages her to pick it and enjoy it; the plan backfires, though, as it withers as soon as she touches it. Aylmer tries to take her portrait—a process evoking early photography—but the results are less than optimal: Georgiana’s birthmark is even more obvious than before. He destroys the result in acid.

After some time at work in the lab with Aminadab, Aylmer produces a vial of liquid which he claims is an “elixir of immortality” (Paragraph 43) that has an alchemical power to extend or end life, as well as the ability to remove superficial blemishes. It will not work on Georgiana, Aylmer knows, as its power is only superficial. He repeatedly asks Georgiana about her condition. Georgiana perceives that something in the apartment—the fragrances or otherwise—have begun to make her feel strange. She sees her own reflection and finds her birthmark even more repulsive than Aylmer does.

She spends time reading a book of Aylmer’s findings and feels enamored with his genius, but she “could not help but observe that his most splendid successes were almost invariably failures” (Paragraph 51). She sees these faults as proof of the limitations of human beings, and they make her love him all the more. She trails after Aylmer into the lab where he works, intending to tell him of a new symptom she is experiencing.

In his lab, the furnace is working furiously. Aylmer himself is pale and intent, watching his titration system, and he panics when he discovers Georgiana has followed him. Georgiana confronts him, and Aylmer admits that there is only one solution remaining to try to remove the mark, a new elixir, which he is working on now. Whatever the solution might be, Georgiana assents to it; back in her room, she reflects on how “honorable” Aylmer’s love is, that he is discontent with her earthly nature and strives for her perfection.

Aylmer brings her a draught, which, as he demonstrates on a diseased plant, should rid Georgiana of the mark. Georgiana drinks it with fervor and falls asleep. Aylmer takes notes on her condition, occasionally kissing the mark, though it repulses him. To his delight, as he watches, the mark begins to disappear.

Aylmer pulls back the curtain, and sunlight falls on Georgiana’s face. Aminadab laughs, and Aylmer joins him, not yet perceiving anything is amiss. Georgiana wakes and addresses Aylmer tenderly, telling him that he has acted nobly, even if he “rejected the best the earth could offer!” (Paragraph 89). She tells him she is dying. As the birthmark disappears, the treatment a success, she passes away. Aminadab laughs again: the final victory of the earthly over the celestial. The narrator concludes with a moralizing statement chastising Aylmer for seeking perfection in the mortal realm.  

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The Birth-Mark

By nathaniel hawthorne, the birth-mark essay questions.

In addition to Georgiana and Aylmer, there is one other character in “The Birth-Mark”: Aminadab. Examine Aminadab’s role in the story. What does he represent, and how does he contrast with other characters?

While he seems to be only a minor and vaguely unnerving character, Aminadab’s role in the story is a critical one, latent with symbolism. Hawthorne imbues Aminadab’s characterization with religious undertones—for example, “Aminadab” is the name of a high priest in the Bible. Aminadab’s religious role becomes all the more evident when we compare him to Aylmer, who represents science. Aminadab condemns Aylmer’s scientific inquiries, specifically his preoccupation with perfection and his endeavors to remove Georgiana’s birthmark. As a representative of “man’s physical nature” and religion, Aminadab upholds more humanity and compassion for mankind than Aylmer. He accepts the natural faults among people, which cements him as a morally superior foil to Aylmer.

“The Birth-Mark” plays with notions of gender in compelling ways. Examine the dynamics of Aylmer and Georgiana’s relationship. Does Georgiana undermine—or conform to—gender norms?

As the only woman in the “The Birth-Mark,” Georgiana seemingly adheres to the social norms of the late 18th century, which idealized the dutiful and submissive wife. Her and Aylmer’s marriage is dominated by Aylmer and his obsessions to create a perfect woman, and Georgiana often submits to his desires. Notably, Georgiana’s self-worth almost entirely derives from the opinions of men around her. Because previous male admirers praised her birthmark, she likewise considered the mark to be charming—however, once Aylmer expresses his disdain toward the mark, her self-esteem vanishes, and she claims she would rather die than fail to satisfy him. In this regard, Georgiana’s character accurately reflects the gender politics of the late 18th century: she’s powerless and subordinate to her husband.

However, in some cases, Georgiana retains some agency: she’s the one who brings up Aylmer’s dream, encourages him to proceed with the experiment, accuses him of concealing the truths of the experiment’s development, and finally expresses pity toward him before she dies. Thus, Georgiana emerges as a multifaceted female protagonist—while she remains submissive to Aylmer, she also acts out of her own volition.

“The Birth-Mark” reflects both on the state of religion and the limitation of scientific inquiries. How does the science/religion dichotomy manifest in Aylmer and his experiments?

As Robert B. Heilman notes, Aylmer’s most tragic flaw lies in his apotheosizing of science. He allows his scientific inquiries to engulf his life completely, and he elevates himself to a God-like position as someone who can supposedly prolong life and tamper with natural creations. Also, throughout the story, the text uses religious language to delineate Aylmer's scientific inquiries—his achievements are considered “miracles” and “wonders,” his experiments are noted for their enigmatic and “mysterious” ways, and the narrator notes that he may possess the same “degree of faith in man's ultimate control over Nature” as other famous scientists. In other words, Aylmer has zealously conflated religion with his passion for science, which results in his excess of ambition and confidence in his abilities (which ultimately lead to Georgiana’s ill-fated death).

The Birth-Mark Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Birth-Mark is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

How is the conflict between Georgiana and Aylmer resolved over the course of the text

Like most of his inquiries, Aylmer’s quest to perfect Georgiana ultimately fails. His solution erases the mark, but Georgiana dies as a result—without her birthmark, she is too much of an ideal being to occupy earth. Through the failed experiment,...

the birthmark

I don't think their ages are ever stated. I might guess that Aylmer is middle age and Georgiana is much younger than him.

You can check out the characteres below:

https://www.gradesaver.com/the-birth-mark/study-guide/character-list

Study Guide for The Birth-Mark

The Birth-Mark study guide contains a biography of Nathaniel Hawthorne, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Birth-Mark
• The Birth-Mark Summary
• Character List

Essays for The Birth-Mark

The Birth-Mark essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Birth-Mark by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

• Alchemy and Morality in ‘Rappaccini’s Daughter’ and ‘The Birthmark’?
• Fragility of the Intellectual Male Psyche and Permanence of Humanity In The Birth-Mark
• What is Happiness Worth?: "The Birthmark" and "Wakefield"
• Beauty, Horror and Morality in Hawthorne's "The Birth-Mark"
• Science turns into Catastrophe

Wikipedia Entries for The Birth-Mark

• Introduction
• Plot summary
• Publication history

The Birthmark

Nathaniel hawthorne, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

“The Birthmark” centers around the conflict between science and nature. Aylmer cannot accept Georgiana as nature made her, and instead feels driven to use his scientific knowledge to erase what he sees as nature’s imperfection. The birthmark on Georgiana’s face is, by definition, a mark that formed in the womb. It is an entirely natural occurrence, and the narrator implies that the mark exists for a reason – to keep Georgiana imperfect enough to remain an earthly being.

However, Aylmer worships science and does not hesitate to use his skills to tamper with nature’s creations. Even before becoming fixated on the birthmark, he changes the natural life cycle of plants and considers how to make an elixir of life, which would make the drinker immortal. Aylmer himself is aware of the tenuous relationship between science and nature – he tells Georgiana that even though he probably could create an elixir of life, he doesn’t do so because it would go against nature. However, his vanity over his wife’s appearance seems to blind him to this danger in his experimentation with the birthmark. Normally, Aylmer excludes all signs of nature from his laboratory, even replacing natural sunshine with chemical lamps. At the moment the birthmark disappears, however, he opens a curtain and sunlight falls on Georgiana. And it is then, in the true light of nature rather than through the limited vision of science, that it is revealed that she must die.

The word “God” does not appear in the story. However, due to Hawthorne’s concern with religion in many of his works, it makes sense to look for religious implications in this story as well. “Nature” implies a sense of the divine, since in a traditional Christian view, God created the natural world. In working to change nature, then, Aylmer also attempts to change God’s creation.

In this story’s view of the world, science does not come out of natural processes, but instead works to overturn them. Aylmer’s scientific intervention results in Georgiana’s death, implying that scientists must not overstep their boundaries and go against what nature—and God—has willed to be a certain way.

Science, Nature, and Religion ThemeTracker

Science, Nature, and Religion Quotes in The Birthmark

It was the fatal flaw of humanity which Nature, in one shape or another, stamps ineffaceably on all her productions, either to imply that they are temporary and finite, or that their perfection must be wrought by toil and pain. The crimson hand expressed the ineludible gripe in which mortality clutches the highest and purest of earthly mould, degrading them into kindred with the lowest, and even with the very brutes, like whom their visible frames return to dust. In this manner, selecting it as the symbol of his wife's liability to sin, sorrow, decay, and death, Aylmer's sombre 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.

I have already given this matter the deepest thought—thought which might almost have enlightened me to create a being less perfect than yourself. Georgiana, you have led me deeper than ever into the heart of science. I feel myself fully competent to render this dear cheek as faultless as its fellow; and then, most beloved, what will be my triumph when I shall have corrected what Nature left imperfect in her fairest work! Even Pygmalion, when his sculptured woman assumed life, felt not greater ecstasy than mine will be.

Here, too, at an earlier period, he had studied the wonders of the human frame, and attempted to fathom the very process by which Nature assimilates all her precious influences from earth and air, and from the spiritual world, to create and foster man, her masterpiece. The latter pursuit, however, Aylmer had long laid aside in unwilling recognition of the truth—against which all seekers sooner or later stumble—that our great creative Mother, while she amuses us with apparently working in the broadest sunshine, is yet severely careful to keep her own secrets, and, in spite of her pretended openness, shows us nothing but results. She permits us, indeed, to mar, but seldom to mend, and, like a jealous patentee, on no account to make.

Aylmer bade her cast her eyes upon a vessel containing a quantity of earth. She did so, with little interest at first; but was soon startled to perceive the germ of a plant shooting upward from the soil. Then came the slender stalk; the leaves gradually unfolded themselves; and amid them was a perfect and lovely flower. "It is magical!" cried Georgiana. "I dare not touch it." "Nay, pluck it," answered Aylmer,—"pluck it, and inhale its brief perfume while you may. The flower will wither in a few moments and leave nothing save its brown seed vessels; but thence may be perpetuated a race as ephemeral as itself." But Georgiana had no sooner touched the flower than the whole plant suffered a blight, its leaves turning coal-black as if by the agency of fire.

He gave a history of the long dynasty of the alchemists, who spent so many ages in quest of the universal solvent by which the golden principle might be elicited from all things vile and base. Aylmer appeared to believe that, by the plainest scientific logic, it was altogether within the limits of possibility to discover this long-sought medium; "but," he added, "a philosopher who should go deep enough to acquire the power would attain too lofty a wisdom to stoop to the exercise of it." Not less singular were his opinions in regard to the elixir vitae. He more than intimated that it was at his option to concoct a liquid that should prolong life for years, perhaps interminably; but that it would produce a discord in Nature which all the world, and chiefly the quaffer of the immortal nostrum, would find cause to curse.

"And what is this?" asked Georgiana, pointing to a small crystal globe containing a gold-colored liquid. "It is so beautiful to the eye that I could imagine it the elixir of life." "In one sense it is," replied Aylmer; "or, rather, the elixir of immortality. It is the most precious poison that ever was concocted in this world. By its aid I could apportion the lifetime of any mortal at whom you might point your finger. The strength of the dose would determine whether he were to linger out years, or drop dead in the midst of a breath. No king on his guarded throne could keep his life if I, in my private station, should deem that the welfare of millions justified me in depriving him of it.”

Much as he had accomplished, she could not but observe that his most splendid successes were almost invariably failures, if compared with the ideal at which he aimed. His brightest diamonds were the merest pebbles, and felt to be so by himself, in comparison with the inestimable gems which lay hidden beyond his reach. The volume, rich with achievements that had won renown for its author, was yet as melancholy a record as ever mortal hand had penned. It was the sad confession and continual exemplification of the shortcomings of the composite man, the spirit burdened with clay and working in matter, and of the despair that assails the higher nature at finding itself so miserably thwarted by the earthly part.

The fatal hand had grappled with the mystery of life, and was the bond by which an angelic spirit kept itself in union with a mortal frame. As the last crimson tint of the birthmark—that sole token of human imperfection—faded from her cheek, the parting breath of the now perfect woman passed into the atmosphere, and her soul, lingering a moment near her husband, took its heavenward flight. Then a hoarse, chuckling laugh was heard again! Thus ever does the gross fatality of earth exult in its invariable triumph over the immortal essence which, in this dim sphere of half development, demands the completeness of a higher state.

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Birthmark” Short Story Essay

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Introduction

The brief basic plot of the story, works cited.

During Nathaniel Hawthorne’s lifetime, there was a tremendous advancement in science and technology. People began believing that all of life’s unanswered questions would soon be answered in the laboratories of the scientists if they would just have the patience to wait long enough. It was felt that with just a little time, all the evils of society would be ironed out and all imperfections would be cured. These are the issues examined in Hawthorne’s short story “The Birthmark.”

The story is essentially the story of a scientific man who cannot stand a small birthmark visible on his wife’s cheek and which she agrees to attempt to remove in a process that eventually kills her. In this story, Hawthorne illustrates through the symbolism of the birthmark science’s approach toward ‘perfecting’ society, society’s acceptance of this approach and the true nature of this type of imperfection.

Hawthorne uses the symbol of the birthmark as a way of illustrating science’s approach to the aberrations of nature as a problem that needs to be fixed. Aylmer’s wife Georgiana has a tiny hand-shaped birthmark on her face that shows most clearly when she is pale and upset and tends not to show at all when she is happy and rosy. As Hawthorne points out, there were generally two approaches taken toward this small defect in her otherwise perfect face. “Georgiana’s lovers were wont to say that some fairy at her birth hour had laid her tiny hand upon the infant’s cheek, and left this impress there in token of the magic endowments that were to give her such sway over all hearts.”

On the other hand, “some fastidious persons – but they were exclusively of her own sex – affirmed that the bloody hand, as they chose to call it, quite destroyed the effect of Georgiana’s beauty, and rendered her countenance even hideous.” This was the approach taken by Aylmer to such a degree that his only consideration of it was to find a means of removing it, regardless of the dangers this process might present to his lovely wife’s ultimate health or future. Aylmer feels the wife of a scientist as prestigious as himself should be absolutely free of any perfections nature might have bestowed upon her. Because he is unable to accept her ‘imperfections’ as signs that she is a natural and very human woman, he is unable to enjoy the life of happiness the couple should have otherwise enjoyed.

It is through the actions of Georgiana that the attitudes of society toward science are reflected in this short story. When Aylmer first suggests that Georgiana could have the birthmark surgically removed, she is shocked and reluctant to even consider the possibilities. “To tell you the truth it has been so often called a charm that I was simple enough to imagine it might be so,” she tells him. However, his continued horror at the sight of the mark works on her spirit as does the continued calls of science, shocked and dismayed at the rest of society’s reluctance to experiment where it is perceived only God should go, work on society itself.

Finally, Georgiana gives in to Aylmer’s suggestion, passively agreeing to participate in whatever form of experiment he might choose to present to her and asking few, if any, questions as to what he’s been doing. “Georgiana began to conjecture that she was already subjected to certain physical influences, either breathed in with the fragrant air or taken with her food.” Finally, when she finally perceives the danger involved in the experiment, she confronts Aylmer with a desire for more knowledge, but when he refuses to give her any details, she readily agrees to do whatever is asked of her again.

Finally, Hawthorne illustrates that not all natural imperfection is necessarily something evil that must be cured by science as the fading of the birthmark results in the death of the lady. Its shape and the suggestion that it is the loving result of a fairy touch indicate that the birthmark has some sort of spiritual connection to the lady.

This is emphasized in Aylmer’s dream: “He had fancied himself with his servant Aminadab, attempting an operation for the removal of the birthmark; but the deeper went the knife, the deeper sank the hand, until at length its tiny grasp appeared to have caught hold of Georgiana’s heart; whence, however, her husband was inexorably resolved to cut or wrench it away.” This foreshadows the destructive task he has embraced as well as the purity and tenderness externally represented in the form of the mark.

The essential nature of the mark to the lady’s person is again brought forward when Aylmer finally comes partially clean to Georgiana, just before administering the final draught: “Know, then, that this crimson hand, superficial as it seems, has clutched its grasp into your being with a strength of which I had no previous conception. I have already administered agents powerful enough to do aught except to change your entire physical system.” When he does give her the drink to change her system, she is perfected and can no longer remain on earth in human form.

Through this short story, which sees very little in the way of actual action, Hawthorne is able to criticize the aims of science and to question its relative merits. Through the symbolism of the birthmark and its wearer, Hawthorne manages to illustrate how science remains fixated on fixing things that may not need to be fixed or that should be appreciated for their own intrinsic value. By focusing on the behavior of the wearer of the birthmark, and thus its guardian and protector, Hawthorne demonstrates the less than ideal reaction of the public toward the more outlandish scientific ideas as well as illustrates how the public is eventually won over to these ideas.

Finally, by showing his readers that the birthmark is valuable in protecting the life of this lady, that it is a necessary part of her humanity, Hawthorne indicates how science has the power to destroy something special and irreplaceable without bringing any benefit to mankind in its place.

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. “The Birthmark.”

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10 Best AI Essay Generators In 2024

In 2024, AI essay generators have become indispensable tools for students, writers, and professionals seeking efficient and effective ways to produce high-quality written content. These advanced platforms leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to understand language patterns, conduct research, and generate coherent and well-structured essays with minimal input. The best AI essay generators offer a range of functionalities, including content generation, grammar and spell-checking, style suggestions, and plagiarism detection.

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What is an AI Essay Generator?

An AI essay generator is a software tool that automatically uses artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to create essays and other written content. These platforms analyze language patterns, conduct research, and generate coherent, well-structured texts in a fraction of the time it would take a human to write.

Key Features

Here are some key features and functionalities of AI essay generators:

Content Generation: AI essay generators can produce entire essays, articles, or specific sections based on minimal input from the user. This includes generating ideas, outlines, introductions, conclusions, and body paragraphs.

Language Understanding: These tools leverage natural language processing (NLP) to understand and generate human-like text. They can mimic various writing styles and tones, making the generated content suitable for different purposes, such as academic writing, blog posts, or creative writing.

Research Capabilities: Advanced AI essay generators can conduct basic research to include relevant information and references in the essays. They can draw from a vast database of information to ensure the content is accurate and up-to-date.

Editing and Proofreading: Many AI essay generators have built-in grammar and spell checkers, style suggestions, and plagiarism detection. This helps in refining the generated content to meet academic or professional standards.

User-Friendly Interfaces: These tools are designed to be easy to use, often requiring users to simply input a topic or prompt, after which the AI generates the content. Some platforms offer customizable templates and formats to suit specific writing needs.

Efficiency and Productivity: AI essay generators save time by quickly producing drafts that can be edited and finalized, making them useful for students, writers, and professionals who need to produce large volumes of content quickly.

Best AI Essay Generators

Here are the ten best AI essay generators in 2024, offering a range of features to assist with writing, editing, and optimizing essays:

Jasper is a powerful AI writing assistant renowned for its high-quality content generation, customizable tone, and style. It leverages advanced language models to produce coherent and engaging essays efficiently. Jasper is particularly suitable for advanced academic and professional writing, offering seamless integration with various platforms, making it a top choice for master’s and doctoral students. Its diverse text creation options, despite being pricier than some competitors, provide significant value through its extensive feature set.

Rytr is an affordable, all-in-one AI writing platform designed to assist users in creating high-quality essays and content quickly and efficiently. Utilizing OpenAI’s GPT-3 technology, Rytr can generate text based on specified tones, use cases, and topics. It features a built-in plagiarism checker to ensure originality and offers tools to rephrase or shorten content. Its intuitive interface makes it user-friendly, even for those with minimal technical experience. Rytr’s affordability, with plans starting as low as $7.50 per month, and its comprehensive features, make it an ideal choice for budget-conscious students and writers.

3. Writesonic

Writesonic is a versatile AI writing tool designed to assist with a wide range of content creation needs, including essays. It leverages advanced AI models like OpenAI’s GPT-4 to generate high-quality, engaging content quickly. Writesonic includes features such as a built-in spell, grammar, and plagiarism checker, which allows users to edit and refine their work directly within the platform. It supports multiple languages and offers templates for various writing styles, making it a powerful tool for students, professionals, and content creators.

Copy.ai is an AI-powered platform designed to assist users in generating various types of content quickly and efficiently. It uses natural language processing (NLP) models to generate content such as marketing copy, product descriptions, social media posts, and more. The platform aims to streamline the content creation process by providing templates and prompts that users can customize to fit their specific needs, saving time and effort in generating engaging and effective content.

Also Read: Best Online Image-to-Text Converter Tools

5. GrammarlyGO

GrammarlyGO is a subscription-based version of Grammarly, a widely used digital writing assistant. It offers enhanced features beyond the free version, including advanced grammar checking, style suggestions, and vocabulary enhancements. GrammarlyGO is designed to help users improve their writing clarity , correctness, and effectiveness across various platforms, including web browsers, Microsoft Office applications, and mobile devices. It’s particularly popular among professionals, students, and anyone looking to elevate the quality of their written communication effortlessly.

6. Article forge

Article Forge is an automated content generation tool that uses artificial intelligence to produce written articles on various topics. It leverages natural language processing and machine learning algorithms to create unique, readable content that mimics human writing. Users can input keywords and specify the type of content they need, and Article Forge generates articles that are supposed to be original and SEO-friendly, suitable for blogs, websites, and other online platforms.

7. ContentBot AI

ContentBot AI is an advanced artificial intelligence platform designed to generate high-quality and relevant content across various domains. Leveraging state-of-the-art natural language processing techniques, ContentBot AI can create engaging articles, blog posts , product descriptions, and more, tailored to specific topics and audiences. It helps businesses and individuals streamline their content creation processes, ensuring accuracy, coherence, and SEO optimization .

Also Read: Best AI Copywriting Tools

8. AI Writer

“AI Writer” refers to software or tools powered by artificial intelligence designed to generate written content automatically. These AI writers utilize natural language processing algorithms to understand and produce human-like text, ranging from short-form articles and blog posts to product descriptions and marketing copy. They are used across various industries to streamline content creation processes, improve efficiency, and generate large volumes of text quickly while maintaining quality and coherence.

9. EssayGenius

EssayGenius appears to be a platform or service related to generating essays or academic content. It likely utilizes artificial intelligence or automated processes to assist users in creating essays, papers, or other written assignments efficiently and effectively. This type of service is typically designed to help students or professionals save time and improve the quality of their written work by providing tools for research, structuring, and even generating content based on given parameters or topics.

10. Editpad

EditPad is a versatile text editor designed for Windows that offers a user-friendly interface and powerful features for editing plain text files. It supports tabbed editing, making it easy to work with multiple documents simultaneously. EditPad also provides useful features like search and replace, syntax highlighting for various programming languages, and the ability to handle large files efficiently. It’s popular among users who need a reliable, customizable text editing tool for both casual and professional use.

Final Thought On AI Essay Generators

AI essay generators have emerged as controversial tools in the realm of academic writing and content creation. They promise efficiency and convenience by generating content quickly based on input prompts, they raise ethical concerns regarding plagiarism and the authenticity of generated work. These tools can assist in brainstorming and structuring ideas, but they often lack the critical thinking, creativity, and depth that human writers bring to their work. Reliance on AI essay generators may undermine learning and the development of essential writing skills. They can be useful for certain tasks, and caution and ethical considerations are crucial when using AI essay generators in educational or professional contexts.

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A Silence Is Shattered, and So Are Many Fans of Alice Munro

Admirers said they were “blindsided” by revelations that Munro’s youngest daughter had been abused by her stepfather — and that Munro stayed with him even after she learned of it years later.

By Alexandra Alter ,  Elizabeth A. Harris and Vjosa Isai

Revelations by the author Alice Munro’s youngest daughter that she had been sexually abused by her stepfather as a child, and that Munro stayed with the abuser even after he was convicted of the assault, reverberated in Canada and across the literary world on Monday.

The story, told by Munro’s daughter Andrea Skinner in an essay in The Toronto Star and reported by the same newspaper, left many of Munro’s admirers reeling, wondering how a writer of her stature was able to keep such a secret for decades and how the revelations might impact her towering legacy.

“Alice was always kind of Saint Alice,” said Martin Levin, the former editor of the books section at The Globe and Mail. He heard “not even the faintest whisper or hint” of the news in his 20 years at the paper, he said.

For decades, Munro has been revered for her sharply observed short fiction and her insights into human nature and relationships. Even as she won the Nobel Prize in 2013, Munro remained private and unassuming, and described her life in a small town in Ontario as ordinary, quiet and happy.

That image of Munro, who died in May at age 92, shattered on Sunday.

The Canadian novelist Margaret Atwood wrote in an email that she was “blindsided” by the revelations. While she had learned a bit about the cause of the family rift a couple of years ago, from one of Munro’s other daughters, she never knew the full story until she read Skinner’s account.

“Why did she stay? Search me,” wrote Atwood of Munro’s decision. “I think they were from a generation and place that shoveled things under the carpet.”

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