Essay on the Woman Protagonist in The Birthmark - 1856 Words

Woman Protagonist in â€Å"The Birthmark† In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story, â€Å"The Birthmark,† the reader finds an excellent example of a woman who is so superior to her male counterpart that she has to be labeled the protagonist of the tale. This essay will demonstrate why this designation is deserved by the female character, Georgiana. In the opening paragraph of â€Å"The Birthmark† the narrator introduces Aylmer as a scientist whose love for Georgiana is â€Å"more attractive than any chemical one.† And indeed, he is such a passionate scientist that everything meaningful in his life has to be related to science. He is incapable of developing beyond this stage of personal growth. Georgiana, on the other hand, enters the†¦show more content†¦The reply comes from a virtuous woman. But Aylmer overlooks the precious and pursues the superficial by asserting that the birthmark is â€Å"the visible mark of earthly imperfection,† and that it â€Å"shocks† him. Georgiana perceives a lack of love in his overdone negative reaction to the birthmark: ``Then why did you take me from my mothers side? You cannot love what shocks you! The narrator includes observations of other women regarding the mark: â€Å"Some fastidious persons -- but they were exclusively of her own sex -- affirmed that the bloody hand, as they chose to call it, quite destroyed the effect of Georgianas beauty, and rendered her countenance even hideous.† The narrator opposes such an absurd accusation, likening it to the ridiculousness of asserting that blue veins in quality marble degrade the marble: â€Å"But it would be as reasonable to say that one of those small blue stains which sometimes occur in the purest statuary marble would convert the Eve of Powers to a monster.† In a balanced consideration of Georgiana and the mark, the narrator also includes the opinion of the â€Å"masculine observers†; they, â€Å"if the birthmark did not heighten their admiration, contented themselves with wishing it away, thatShow MoreRelated The Birthmark Essay: External and Internal Conflict in The Birthmark2109 Words   |  9 PagesExternal and Internal Conflict in â€Å"The Birthmark†Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚   This essay will analyze Nathaniel Hawthorne’s â€Å"The Birthmark† to determine the external and internal conflicts in the tale.    In the opinion of this reader, the central conflicts in the tale – the relation between the protagonist and antagonist usually (Abrams 225) – are the external one between Aylmer and Georgiana over the birthmark on her cheek, and internal ones within Georgiana between love and self-interest andRead MoreTo What Extent Does Schlink in His Novel ‚Äà ºthe Reader‚Äà ¹, Show That It Is Impossible to Escape One‚Äà ´s Past.1189 Words   |  5 PagesEssay Response To â€Å"The Reader† To what extent does Schlink in his novel â€Å"The Reader†, show that it is impossible to escape one’s past. In his novel â€Å"The Reader†, author Bernhard Schlink through the use of techniques such as structure, setting and characterisation reveals to an immense extent that it is impossible to escape one’s past. Schlink utilises the main protagonists of the text, Michael and Hanna, depicting their relationship, along with the idea of post war German guilt to further