Hawthorne’s “The Birth-Mark”

As I read “The Birth-Mark,” I attempted to understand Baym’s suggestion of Hawthornes’ feministic tone. In doing so, I agree with her argument that Hawthorne alludes to the extensive strains women endure from domineering men. Throughout the story, Aylmer displays his unflattering qualities of egocentrism and ideologies of perfectionism. He transforms Georgiana’s diminutive birthmark into a symbol of imperfection that forces him to shutter, though other bachelors dream of “the privilege of pressing [their] lips” upon her marked cheek (695).

Originally, Georgiana’s birthmark holds no weight in her thoughts, but her husband’s unsettling reactions and perpetual nonacceptance lead her to abhor the mark more than he does. Supporting Baym’s argument, Hawthorne alludes to the idea that, at times, men (whether intentional or not) result in women feeling inferior, unworthy, or flawed due to man’s unrealistic vision of female visage. Though Hawthorne describes Georgiana’s spirit as exhibiting “no taint of imperfection,” she still undergoes her husband’s disapproval and rejection because he lacks the ability to see past the superficial and embrace her kind, servile, loving nature (704). 

In addition, as Aylmer experiments with his wife in his laboratory, Hawthorne reveals how men tend to objectify women. There lies a connection between Aylmer’s name and “alchemist” as the story mentions (700); the same way an alchemist attempts to make gold out of base metal, Aylmer attempts to make his wife faultless. Consenting to Aylmer’s experiment, Georgiana risks her life in order to bring her husband satisfaction, which in turn leads to her ultimate demise. 

Throughout the story, Hawthorne makes Aylmer’s controlling characteristics evident. As a man of science, Aylmer wishes to control nature and change what earth creates. Aside from his experiments, he wishes to control the appearance of his wife, as well. In agreement with Baym, Hawthorne emphasizes man’s impulse to subjugate women and sheds light on the struggles women continue to sustain.