The Birthmark – A study on imperfect perfectionists

In Hawthorne’s short story, The Birthmark, Hawthorne uses numerous symbols to address the idea of pursuing perfection. In a world full of mortals and flaws, perfection is seen as an unreachable yet idolized idea. Hawthorne suggests that a fixation on perfection is only a distraction from existing beauty and that perfection is not capable of existing on this world.

To begin, Hawthorne presents a genetic symbol to reveal the so called “flaws” in human nature. The main symbol Hawthorne uses is the birthmark. From Aylmers point of view, symbolizing the perfectionist, the birthmark is “the symbol of his wife’s liability to sin, sorrow, decay, and death…a frightful object, causing him more trouble and horror than ever Georgiana’s beauty, whether of soul or sense, had given him delight.” Aylmer misinterprets this physical mark as a moral flaw in Georgina. To him it is the one thing that is keeping Georgina from perfection and because of that it is “frightful”. In contrast, Hawthorne suggests another point of view and says that “Georgiana’s lovers were wont to say that some fairy at her birth hour had laid her tiny hand upon the infant’s cheek, and left this impress there in token of the magic endowments that were to give her such sway over all hearts.” This point of view challenges the idea that our so called flaws are evil things. This quote suggests that the birthmark was unique for a reason and that uniqueness brought more beauty instead. These two ideas are juxtaposed to show how embracing our mortality and flaws is a lot more beautiful than searching for perfection.

Another symbol presented in the story is Aylmer’s journal. Aylmer’s journal is filled with records of his studies including many failures and imperfect experiments. The journal is a symbol of the beauty in failure and mistakes, yet Aylmer himself could not see this same beauty in Georgina. Georgina describes the journal as a “sad confession and continual exemplification of the shortcomings of the composite man, the spirit burdened with clay and working in matter, and of the despair that assails the higher nature at finding itself so miserably thwarted by the earthly part. Perhaps every man of genius in whatever sphere might recognize the image of his own experience in Aylmer’s journal.” Aylmer himself knew very well of the shortcomings of a mortal man. The story says, “His brightest diamonds were the merest pebbles.” Aylmer was able to use his failures to create a beauty that was unique and magical just like Georgiana’s birthmark. However, Aylmer saw Georgina as just another science project and thought that the birthmark was another mistake that had to be made right. This idea furthers Hawthorne’s idea that the pursuit of perfection only distracts us from the real beauty. In addition, Aylmer holds Georgina to a higher standard than himself which is unjust and selfish.

These two symbols both reveal the beauty in our flaws and the pain in pursuing perfection. Aylmer, a symbol of a perfectionist, was in fact less perfect than anyone else in the story. Hawthorne recognizes the ignorance of humanity and basically says that people wouldn’t know beauty if it hit them in the face, maybe even leaving a bright red hand print on their cheek.

THE FACTS IN THE CASE OF M. VALDEMAR – The Inevitability of Death

The statistics on death may be very overwhelming, being that one out of every one person dies. Death, despite all our efforts to prolong it and escape it, is in fact inevitable. In Edgar Allen Poe’s short story, The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar, Poe addresses death with scientific diction, and offers grotesque imagery that creates an eerie and dark mood. Throughout the story, the attempt to prolong death and play with life only proves the inevitability of life’s end. Through these literary techniques Poe develops an even greater theme that suggests that by trying to escape death and hide from it only makes our lives more empty and actually brings us closer to death.

To begin, Poe uses complex and scientific diction that help increase the credibility of the narrator and make the story seem real. From the title to the opening line, the narrator presents the story as a scientific case that is based on facts. The narrator says, “It is now rendered necessary that I give the facts –as far as I comprehend them myself.” This statement along with using words such as “Ariculo mortis” make this eerie and supernatural event seem factual. In fact, many people during the time of this story’s release actually believed it was a real story and not fiction. This scientific diction also contributes to the theme in that it looks as death as something apart of nature and that can be studied. The narrator’s use of hypnosis and mystical powers may seem to defy the laws of nature but in fact, it does not work and the result is as expected, death.

Throughout the novel Poe also uses grotesque imagery that shows the harsh realities of death and the even harsher realities of trying to fight death. Rather than peacefully embracing death the picture the narrator presents is gruesome and dark. The narrator describes the situation by saying, “The upper lip, at the same time, writhed itself away from the teeth, which it had previously covered completely; while the lower jaw fell with an audible jerk, leaving the mouth widely extended, and disclosing in full view the swollen and blackened tongue.” The scene is everything but peaceful and it appears that death has taken another person. However, moments later the narrator says, “there was an instant return of the hectic circles on the cheeks; the tongue quivered, or rather rolled violently in the mouth and at length the same hideous voice which I have already described, broke forth: “For God’s sake! –quick! –quick! –put me to sleep –or, quick! –waken me! –quick! –I say to you that I am dead!” The scene is a symbol of protest and fight against death. The subject in protest, who previously was open to the idea of prolonging death is now embracing it and in fact longing for it. Poe uses this to show that putting your effort into hiding from death is more painful than embracing it.

At the end of the novel, when the subject finally is released from his hypnosis, it is discovered that he has been dead for the entire 7 months of his hypnosis. This eerie fact drives Poe’s point home that our fight against death is pointless. Poe suggests a very insightful idea that in all the time we spend trying to hide from death or prolong it, we may not realize that we are in fact already not living. From the story one can conclude that living amidst the pain of death, isn’t even living at all. Rather, embracing it and letting go of our fragile lives is a lot less painful and instead peaceful.

Shawshank Redemption – Thme

Life is a mystery for those who allow fate to lead their lives. Rather than living by their own will, these people will compromise and accept the trials that life puts them through. In Stephen KIng’s novel, The Shawshank Redemption, the prisoners of Shawshank allow fate and the prison environment to control how they live. As a result, life on the outside is a fantasy and they are left to accept what comes at them and live in fear of what the next moment might bring. However, the main character Andy Dufresne is the antithesis to this miserable way of life. Through Andy, King suggests that real hope is found through living your own way rather than accepting what fate has chosen for you.

To begin, Andy remained hopeful by not fully conforming to life in prison. This was very apparent based on just his physical appearance. The book says, “He was a short, neat little man with sandy hair and small, clever hands. He wore gold-rimmed spectacles. His fingernails were always clipped, and they were always clean…He always looked as if he should have been wearing a tie.” When told to imagine a prisoner, one would definitely not imagine someone small and clean with clipped fingernails. King uses this imagery to suggest that Andy was not a prisoner at all. Instead, he held on to his identity outside the prison and remained the clean cut banker he always was.

Andy’s optimism and hopefulness however was not just an appearance or a front but rather the author reveals that the real prison to break free from is in the mind. As Red says, “It goes back to what I said about Andy wearing his freedom like an invisible coat, about how he never really developed a prison mentality. His eyes never got that dull look. He never developed the walk that men get when the day is over and they are going back to their cells for another endless night-that flat-footed, hump-shouldered walk.” Although physically in a prison, Andy never let this prison reach his mind. As in the novel he still dreamed of beaches and had a rock collection, and even did the prison guards taxes. There was a line of defense in his mind that kept out any idea that he was stuck forever. The novel says that there was a “cage in the back of his mind, a cage like his own cell. Only instead of holding a man, that cage held a tiger, and that tiger’s name was Hope.” Andy held onto this hope day and night and hope was the only thing that got him through the day.

Throughout the novel King presents the idea of becoming an institutionalized man as Red puts it. This idea does not only apply to prisoners but everyday life. As seen in Red and the other prisoners, it is easy to allow others to determine the way you live. Andy on the other hand, is a true symbol of hope. He proves that real hope is shown in our physical appearance and deeply rooted in our minds. Society as King sees it, is like a cage. However, not everyone is made for this cage and as the final words of the novel write, “Some birds are not meant to be caged, that’s all. Their feathers are too bright, their songs too sweet and wild. So you let them go, or when you open the cage to feed them they somehow fly out past you. And the part of you that knows it was wrong to imprison them in the first place rejoices, but still, the place where you live is that much more drab and empty for their departure.” This quote shows how hope is the first step to freedom and it is very contagious. Without hope life is only “drab and empty”.

The Minister’s Black Veil – A Parable

In the parable, “The MInister’s Black Veil”, the people’s harsh reaction to Mr Hooper’s mysterious veil reveal the judgement and pain that comes with acknowledging one’s secrets and standing apart from the masses. From the very beginning of the story Hawthorne makes the atmosphere very mysterious and uncomfortable. Immediately, Mr Hooper’s veil strikes fear in the people and without any further discussion or reasoning their immediate response is something is terribly wrong. As Hooper goes for his usual stroll to the meeting house the people begin to talk; “‘I don’t like it,’ muttered an old woman, as she hobbled into the meeting-house. ‘He has changed himself into something awful, only by hiding his face.’ ‘Our parson has gone mad!’ cried Goodman Gray, following him across the threshold.” Hawthorne reveals how quickly people judge something that they don’t understand and that makes them uncomfortable. Without any explanation Hooper is deemed “mad” and becomes something “awful”. The reason for this reaction becomes clearer in Hooper’s conversation with Elizabeth. While Elizabeth pleads with Hooper to remove the veil she says, “‘But what if the world will not believe that it is the type of an innocent sorrow?’ urged Elizabeth. ‘Beloved and respected as you are, there may be whispers that you hide your face under the consciousness of secret sin. For the sake of your holy office, do away this scandal!’” Indeed the people saw the veil as way of Hooper revealing secret sin and keeping something secret. The arrogance of the people in the town is revealed as they are quick to judge Hooper and suggest he has secret sin only to make themselves feel better and remove any conviction they have. This is indeed Mr Hooper’s purpose in wearing the veil and he says it is a “symbol”. In response to Elizabeth he says, “If I hide my face for sorrow, there is cause enough,” he merely replied; “and if I cover it for secret sin, what mortal might not do the same?” Hooper argues that he has plenty reason to wear such a veil and that every person on earth shares the same reasons and has secret sin and sorrows as well. However, people are just hiding these things behind an invisible veil. Later on Hooper is on his deathbed and even in his last hour people still fear the black veil. Finally, Mr Hooper points out the people’s harsh judgement and suggests they instead tremble and look at each other. He says, “When the friend shows his inmost heart to his friend; the lover to his best beloved; when man does not vainly shrink from the eye of his Creator, loathsomely treasuring up the secret of his sin; then deem me a monster, for the symbol beneath which I have lived, and die! I look around me, and, lo! on every visage a Black Veil!” Hooper makes a insightful observation that everyone has a veil over the things they want to keep to hidden and Hooper has only made his visible to prove this point. Just as Hooper became an outcast and even his fiance refused to marry him, Hawthorne suggests the people in the town experience the same judgment and loneliness in their hearts. Hooper’s lonely life was an outward representation of the internal struggle every mortal goes through. As Mr Hooper suggests, there will come a time when everyone’s veil is removed and their sin will be revealed. The question Hawthorne poses is whether or not one should live with the internal pain of secret sin, or at last remove their “veil” and be free.