Title: The Birthmark

Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne

Date of First Publication: 1843

Place of Publication: The Pioneer

Type: Short Story

Characters: No Character

Themes: MAD SCIENTIST/MONSTER; ANDROID; POSTHUMAN; BYRONIC HERO

Critical Summary: The Birthmark is about a scientist, Aylmer, and his obsession with his wife’s birthmark on her face. Georgiana is a beautiful young woman, her only “imperfection” being a small, crimson, hand-shaped birthmark on her left cheek. One evening, Aylmer asks if she would allow him to remove it, as it is an eyesore to him. She refuses at first, but as days go on and the longer he stares at the birthmark with such disdain, Georgiana cannot help but give in to her husband’s request because she too has begun to resent the birthmark. She declares to him that she would rather die than live knowing her husband hates it so much. So he and his servant, Aminadab get to work on crafting a potion that would rid her of the birthmark. In between his work and tending to his wife, he educates her on his previous works and their successes and failures. After returning to his work, Georgiana waits and curiously spies on her husband. Infuriated by her presence, he sends her away until he finishes his work. After he believes he has successfully created the draught, he gives it to her and she gratefully drinks it. The birthmark fades but after it fades completely the drink kills her and Aylmer is left with the consequence of his obsession.

How The Birthmark connects to Frankenstein is through the themes of Mad Scientist, Androids, Posthuman and Last Man, and Byronic Hero. Both stories deal with a mad scientist character, Victor and Aylmer, and both of these characters are brilliant, obsessed, and driven like the Byronic Hero. This is what drives them to create to such a degree that they are willing to destroy themselves and without intention, those they love. Victor is obsessed with creating his creation and hunting down the Creature to the point he starves himself and ultimately dies in his pursuit. Aylmer is obsessed with an imperfection, working endlessly and refusing to allow Georgiana to witness his process. They create humanlike creatures which fulfills the theme of Androids. Victor created the Creature while Aylmer, less obviously so, created Aminadab. Evidence of Aylmer’s creation is what he says when he speaks to Aminadab, calling him a machine made of clay. Because of this, by default Victor and Aylmer fall into the Last Man and Posthuman theme. Creating new, unnatural life through rebirth, they force evolution to progress through science. Aylmer does this with Aminadab and with Georgiana as well. He forces perfection upon his wife, showing that if he could “cure” Georgiana’s birthmark, then he could potentially cure all of humanity of imperfection. He even has within his possession a draught that, if the right amount is drunk, then whoever drank it would be endowed with immortality. If the right amount is not drunk, then the potion could kill the drinker. The difference between Victor and Aylmer is that Aylmer never really knows when to stop, even when his work could potentially kill the woman he loves. Victor feels guilt for what he has done by creating the Creature, while Aylmer never truly shows remorse for his actions.

Administrative Notes:  Hallie Houdetsanakis, CSUF; Annette Morrison, CSUF (editing)