The Birthmark

In New England during the 19th century, gender roles were clearly defined and marriage simply meant the shifting of power from one male figure to another. In this era, women were expected to be willingly subordinate and subject; firstly to their father, and then to their husband. This was the period that served as a backdrop for Nathaniel Hawthorne's allegorical short story, "The Birthmark.' In his story, Hawthorne draws attention to the gender issues of his time and the dangers of perpetuating men's superiority over women, and women's subordination to men.

Alymer, the protagonist in the story, became fixated with a woman named Georgiana. To Alymer, Georgiana was beautiful. To quote him, "Georgiana, you came so nearly perfect from the hand of Nature." So enamored was he, that even though 'he had devoted himself....unreservedly to scientific studies ever to be weaned from them by any second passion," when it came to the pursuit of Georgiana's hand in marriage he, "left his laboratory to the care of an assistant."

Just after their marriage, Alymer began commenting on Georgiana's birthmark. As the name birthmark implies, presumably, Georgiana had the mark from birth and definitely, during her courtship with Alymer. Ironically, this small, red hand that marked the middle of Georgiana's left cheek began to be a problem for Alymer, and by extension Georgiana, but only now that they are married. The first indication of an impending crisis was his questioning whether she ever thought about having it removed. Taken aback by the very question, and then, the earnestness of his inquiry, Georgiana meekly and wisely replies, "To tell you the truth it has been so often called a charm that I was simple enough to imagine it might be so." Nevertheless, Alymer becomes obsessed, "he found this one defect grow more and more intolerable with every moment of their united lives." He wants only to get rid of it. Aylmer's "tyrannizing influence" towards his wife was painful, and eventually Georgiana finds herself internalizing his obsession about her being flawed. She now questions her own identity and self perception, and "soon learned to shudder at his gaze."

Since she seems not just beautiful, but also very smart, Georgiana resolves to let him have his way. She tells him, " Alymer.....I know not what may be the cost to both of us to rid me of this fatal birthmark," but, "let the attempt be made at whatever risk." Contrary to the theory that Georgiana was so enamored or too feeble minded to understand what was happening, rather, she seemed reconciled to the status quo and thus the state of her own life. This was a time when women were inextricably anchored to the males in their lives, with no hope of ever having any power of their own, financially or otherwise, and here she was married to a man; the very person who was filled with disgust and repulsion for her. Neither divorce, nor returning home was an option. Resigned to her position, Georgiana submitted to his dominance even to the point of her death.

Georgiana permitted her husband to play, "God" with her life, not just because she loved and accepted him, but rather because she had very little choice. Although Alymer was introduced by the author as brilliant, Georgiana had another

...