What does the birthmark symbolize?

What does the birthmark symbolize?

Georgiana’s birthmark symbolizes mortality. According to the narrator, every living thing is flawed in some way, nature’s way of reminding us that every living thing eventually dies.

What is the theme of the birthmark by Nathaniel Hawthorne?

‘The Birthmark’ focuses on the theme of obsession, particularly the moment when love becomes an obsession, making it dangerous—and even deadly, shown in Aylmer’s obsession with the birthmark and Georgiana’s obsession with Aylmer to the point of willing suicide by poison.

What happens in the birthmark?

The narrator explains that the birthmark in question is a red mark in the shape of a tiny hand on Georgiana’s left cheek. The mark disappears when she blushes. Georgiana’s male admirers love the birthmark, and many would risk their lives just to kiss it.

What does aminadab symbolize in the birthmark?

Aminadab. Aylmer’s assistant. A hulking, strong, grubby man, Aminadab is an able helper but simultaneously disgusted by Aylmer’s desire to erase Georgiana’s birthmark. Because Aminadab represents the physical side of existence, his disgust is a strong indictment of Aylmer.

What does Aylmer’s name mean in the birthmark?

Aminadab symbolizes man’s earthly, physical half; Aylmer symbolizes man’s lofty, spiritual half. Our second tip-off is his name.

What is the turning point in the birthmark?

Georgiana is described within the story as an incomparable beauty with a hand-shaped birthmark upon the left side of her face. The first major turning point in the story comes one day when Aylmer suggests that she have this birthmark removed on account of how (he says) it detracts from her beauty.

What point of view is the birthmark told in?

Published in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s collection Mosses From an Old Manse, “The Birthmark,” using the third-person-omniscient point of view, tells the story of a beautiful woman, Georgiana, whose face is imprinted with a pale red birthmark in the shape of a small hand, and her husband, Aylmer, a scientist, who possesses a …

How is aminadab a foil for Aylmer?

Aminadab is a foil for Aylmer when he said, “if she were my wife, I’d never part with that birthmark” (Meyer 424). In this statement, he shows just how overboard Aylmer is in this experiment. Aylmer’s previous experiments have not gone well at all.

Which of the following is a metaphor for Georgiana’s birthmark in the story the birthmark?

Georgiana’s faded birthmark (metaphor) Here, the fading of Georgiana’s birthmark is equated to the somber image of a rainbow vanishing. This metaphor constitutes situational irony.

What is the mood of the birthmark?

The tone is ominous, as this passage in paragraph 8 indicates: “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.” The reader thus has a sense early on that the story …

What indications foreshadow the failure of Aylmer’s experiment?

Foreshadowing. Aylmer’s history of unsuccessful, risky, and dangerous experiments, along with his dream about cutting out Georgiana’s birthmark and heart, foreshadows Georgiana’s death. Likewise, when Georgiana faints after visiting her husband’s laboratory for the first time, her doomed fate is foreshadowed.

How does Aylmer balance his love of science with his love for his wife?

How does Aylmer balance his love of science with his love for his wife? A) He spends most of his time with his assistant. He thinks of a way to connect his love for her and science.

What does Aylmer symbolize?

Aylmer and Aminadab act as symbols for the divine and the earthly, respectively. In many instances, Aylmer is described in godlike terms, while Aminadab is constantly described as a brute. This contrast between them reflects the central conflict in the story, one between divine perfection and human imperfection.

What does the worm represent in the thing in the forest?

In the forest, Penny and Primrose encounter a horrible creature, which they later learn is called “the loathly worm.” Immediately, the worm seems to be a clear symbol of the war and all its horrors, which the girls were sent to the mansion to escape.