Based on Nathaniel Hawthorne
http://www.online-literature.com/hawthorne/125/
The last words of Georgiana before her demise are unbearably touching. Perfection has eluded Aylmer as it did many people before and after him to this day. Amidst a bright blooming field, Aylmer had chosen to preoccupy himself with a single sprout of a different flower. A man of science, plagued with the absolute, and flawed by his ideals. Here was something else he could change. Men of Science tend to see the body well, but are blind to the soul. The sweet-hearted trust of Georgiana to her fresh spouse seems flawless. There was no imperfection with this woman. On her face was a mark reminding her man to keep her happy; hence, its disappearance whenever she blushed.
Once again, I will hit my high horses on the previously emphasized word, 'culture': perhaps, man's biggest achievement and deficiency. By what standards was Georgiana imperfect? Who was the decider? With what was this mark irreconcilable? Georgiana's story sadly lives on today. If only Nathaniel Hawthorne hung around longer, He will see how bigger and more pervasive Aylmer's lab has become. He will witness the evolution of Aylmer's minions - notably, how persuasively they now talk, and fast too; rolling many people into Georgiana's death room. Is cultural perfection only achieved in death? The pervasiveness of culture is grossly underestimated on how it affects our choices and ratings. In further complication of the subject, the media infuses a sense of cohesiveness of a popular culture with society - in an endless reckless loop. Aylmer would even shudder at the sight of the mark. Perhaps he should have considered blinding himself to it. He was indeed the person needing the help he so wanted to offer. How often does society shudder at us today?
Science and technology has always been on the defect of over estimating its power - a power it often acquires at the cost of many mistakes, lives, and property. Aylmer's book was full of failures that dwarfed his famous achievements, yet this man dared to turn his wife to one of his specimen. Saying the Aylmer did not deserve Georgiana would be extreme and out of the context of my attention in this text, but it will certainly be within the explorations of my mind on the subject. There is a saying that to a carpenter everything looks like a nail. Men of technology are like this too, to every problem, the raise the techno whip. For many of these men there are no artistic imaginations. They undermine the idea that humans are much more than mere rational beings.
As convenient as it might be to blame Georgiana's misfortune on her, it could not exactly be her fault. It was an attempt to gain acceptance and identity in her own home. This was her husband mounting the pressure; the only person she would have ever wanted to please and make happy. This man was supposed to protect her and give her an identity. How often does this incident replay itself today? Aylmer's criticism helmed the poor Georgiana in a corner and her decision might have been inevitable considering that she wanted a happy home, and divorce probably was not an option in those days, which is good. However, here, she pays a costly price. Today, peer pressure and industry force people to go on a bandwagon even when they have a gut feeling that their trip is aimless. How many tattoos have Aylmer inspired today? How many premarital sex has his 'be sexy' portion engineered? This will be the Georgiana problem: we have played the Georgiana role at one point or the other, and this is often done to protect an identity or social status. On the otherhand, have you ever played Aylmer?
It is an unfortunate story indeed with a pitiful ending that leaves one thinking and almost mourning. She became perfect in death, and just maybe she was happier too.
Mcmichael, George, and James S. Leonard, comps. "The Birthmark" Concise Anthology of American Literature. 6th ed. New Jersey: Pearson Education, 2006. 641-652. Print.
http://www.online-literature.com/hawthorne/125/
"My poor Aylmer," she repeated, with a more than human tenderness, "you have aimed loftily; you have done nobly. Do not repent that with so high and pure a feeling, you have rejected the best the earth could offer. Aylmer, dearest Aylmer, I am dying!"
The last words of Georgiana before her demise are unbearably touching. Perfection has eluded Aylmer as it did many people before and after him to this day. Amidst a bright blooming field, Aylmer had chosen to preoccupy himself with a single sprout of a different flower. A man of science, plagued with the absolute, and flawed by his ideals. Here was something else he could change. Men of Science tend to see the body well, but are blind to the soul. The sweet-hearted trust of Georgiana to her fresh spouse seems flawless. There was no imperfection with this woman. On her face was a mark reminding her man to keep her happy; hence, its disappearance whenever she blushed.
Once again, I will hit my high horses on the previously emphasized word, 'culture': perhaps, man's biggest achievement and deficiency. By what standards was Georgiana imperfect? Who was the decider? With what was this mark irreconcilable? Georgiana's story sadly lives on today. If only Nathaniel Hawthorne hung around longer, He will see how bigger and more pervasive Aylmer's lab has become. He will witness the evolution of Aylmer's minions - notably, how persuasively they now talk, and fast too; rolling many people into Georgiana's death room. Is cultural perfection only achieved in death? The pervasiveness of culture is grossly underestimated on how it affects our choices and ratings. In further complication of the subject, the media infuses a sense of cohesiveness of a popular culture with society - in an endless reckless loop. Aylmer would even shudder at the sight of the mark. Perhaps he should have considered blinding himself to it. He was indeed the person needing the help he so wanted to offer. How often does society shudder at us today?
Science and technology has always been on the defect of over estimating its power - a power it often acquires at the cost of many mistakes, lives, and property. Aylmer's book was full of failures that dwarfed his famous achievements, yet this man dared to turn his wife to one of his specimen. Saying the Aylmer did not deserve Georgiana would be extreme and out of the context of my attention in this text, but it will certainly be within the explorations of my mind on the subject. There is a saying that to a carpenter everything looks like a nail. Men of technology are like this too, to every problem, the raise the techno whip. For many of these men there are no artistic imaginations. They undermine the idea that humans are much more than mere rational beings.
As convenient as it might be to blame Georgiana's misfortune on her, it could not exactly be her fault. It was an attempt to gain acceptance and identity in her own home. This was her husband mounting the pressure; the only person she would have ever wanted to please and make happy. This man was supposed to protect her and give her an identity. How often does this incident replay itself today? Aylmer's criticism helmed the poor Georgiana in a corner and her decision might have been inevitable considering that she wanted a happy home, and divorce probably was not an option in those days, which is good. However, here, she pays a costly price. Today, peer pressure and industry force people to go on a bandwagon even when they have a gut feeling that their trip is aimless. How many tattoos have Aylmer inspired today? How many premarital sex has his 'be sexy' portion engineered? This will be the Georgiana problem: we have played the Georgiana role at one point or the other, and this is often done to protect an identity or social status. On the otherhand, have you ever played Aylmer?
It is an unfortunate story indeed with a pitiful ending that leaves one thinking and almost mourning. She became perfect in death, and just maybe she was happier too.
Mcmichael, George, and James S. Leonard, comps. "The Birthmark" Concise Anthology of American Literature. 6th ed. New Jersey: Pearson Education, 2006. 641-652. Print.
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