Bradley 1 Jonathan Bradley Professor Angie Jacobs ENC 1102 2 April 2014 The Birthmark Proposal The Birthmark

written by Nathaniel Hawthorne reveals the lustful intentions of a scientist named Aylmer who unintentionally kills his wife. Aylmers initial reaction to his wife Georgianas birthmark was mild in nature but ultimately grew to unrelenting distaste. In an attempt to rid his wife of the birthmark for his own benefit, he creates a liquid potion for her to consume, which she willingly drinks. Shortly after consumption, Georgianas complexion gradually fades along with the life inside of her until she finally dies. Throughout the passage, Hawthorne uses complex devices to illustrate this situation of unfortunate demise. The Birthmark, contains a series of literary devices that help efficiently formulate the passage. As the passage develops, it becomes increasingly apparent that Hawthornes personal lifestyle influences his writing. A descendant of Puritan immigrants, Hawthorne openly expresses his religious roots in a variety of his stories. The Birthmark is no exception as Hawthorne occasionally refers to multiple religious phrases/words. This personal diction relies on Hawthornes background which contains the major components of biographical criticism. In addition to this religious background, Hawthorne also uses many symbols. The majority of these symbols are similarly religious, supporting the influence of his puritan background. Hawthorne conveys a series of messages through The Birthmark that highlight the underlying themes. Aylmer greedily attempts to create his wife into a perfect image that he unfortunately does not succeed in. This demonstrates how he implicitly mentions how men tear down women in the passage. Another theme apparent in the passage deals with Aylmers eager

Bradley 2 obsession to get rid of the birthmark. Fleshly desires/sin can cause an individual to make poor decisions. In Aylmers case, his decision led to the death of his wife. Regret could also be considered for assistance when determining the theme. Hawthorne fluently portrays these messages to the reader.