Examples Of Tragic Flaws In The Birthmark
Many children and teenagers will get in sticky situations and ask their parents for advice. Their parents will then respond by telling their kids about their past experiences in a similar situation to help their kids not make the same mistakes that they made. Just as parents try to help their kids not make the same mistakes that they made, tragic flaws do the same in literature. For example, in “The Birthmark” by Nathanial Hawthorne, both Aylmer and Georgiana possess tragic flaws that can be used to teach the audience how to not make the same mistakes that led to their tragedy (Hawthorne 10).
What is a tragic flaw? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a tragic flaw is a flaw in a character that brings about the downfall of the hero
…show more content…
Aylmer’s tragic flaw was that he seeked perfection in every aspect of his life and if a part of his life was not perfect, he had to change or fix it. Aylmer, not long after marrying Georgiana, began to complain about the birthmark that laid on her left cheek. While everyone else in the community thought of Georgiana’s birthmark as beautiful, Aylmer thought the birthmark was a “symbol of imperfection” (Hawthorne 2). Aylmer is determined to make his wife perfect by removing her birthmark. He later tells her that he has found a solution that would take the mark off of her cheek. Georgiana's submissiveness to her husband causes her to agree to have the birthmark removed. This will later lead to the tragedy that takes place in this …show more content…
The responsibility for the tragedy that took place in “The Birthmark” is equally shared between the couple. Aylmer’s search and desire for perfection and Georgiana’s submissiveness to her husband led to the downfall that took place in the story. Aylmer convinces Georgiana to let him use a potion that he has created to remove the birthmark. Overall, the potion was not successful because even though it removed the birthmark, it also caused the tragedy of the story: the death of Georgiana (Hawthorne 10). The tragedy of this story could have been avoided if Aylmer would have loved his wife for the way she was and didn’t expect her to look a certain way or be his vision of perfect. Secondly, if Georgiana would not have listened to the opinions of her husband and realized the only opinion about herself that matters is her own, the tragedy would not have taken
Comparing Women In The Birthmark And Eye Of The Beholder
502 Words | 3 PagesGeorgiana at first didn’t care that she had the mark on her face. She enjoyed the mark because she had been told by many people that “some fairy at her birth hour had laid her tiny hand upon the infant’s cheek”. But eventually, in her eyes it seemed like a devil had laid his hand upon her cheek. This fairy vs. devil symbolizes the way that Aylmer changes her point of view of the birthmark in a negative way. As the male authority figure Aylmer is convincing her to change her looks, whether she wants to or not.
Compare And Contrast Dr. Heidegger's Experiment And The Birthmark
370 Words | 2 PagesIn the stories “The Birthmark” and “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, both explore the wonders of science. “The Birthmark” and “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” explore science in similar ways, like the future. But there are some differences, like who’s future. In “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment”, Dr. Heidegger uses science to create and “magic water” to let people go back to when they were young, this let people change their future for the better.
Similarities Between Hawthorne And The Birthmark
871 Words | 4 PagesLater on Aylmer would come to understand how connected the birthmark was to Georgiana, just as Aminadab had understood earlier. Selfish and blinded by his obsession he continues the course of removing the birthmark costing Georgiana her
Odysseus Is A Hero Essay
865 Words | 4 PagesA tragic flaw is something that has a negative impact on the hero, and their journey. Odysseus is a classic hero because he has a fatal flaw. His flaw is his love for women. More than once he was unfaithful towards his wife, Penelope. For example, when he was on Circe’s island, he promised to sleep with her if she would take back the spell she had cast on them.
How Does Hawthorne Use Satire In Custom House?
1826 Words | 8 PagesHayley Babbitt Period 2 Mr. Nelson 9/22/2015 AP Lang Scarlet Letter discussion questions Custom House Notes: -written just after he was fired from the Salem Custom House in 1849. -original manuscript of The Scarlet Letter is lost, and house printing style was imposed on the 1850 edition, so that version varies occasionally from Hawthorne 's spelling, capitalization, and word division in manuscripts of the same time period. -"Custom-House " sketch is a blend of fact and fantasy. In it Hawthorne does refer to real people, places, and events in Salem, and he also uses this first chapter to introduce the fictional Hester Prynne who wears the scarlet letter that the narrator finds in the Custom House attic.
Jodi Picoult's The Storyteller
1618 Words | 7 PagesThe Past Does Not Define an Individual “Inside each of us is a monster, inside each of us is a saint. The real question is which one we nurture the most, which one will smite the other” (Picoult 111). The only person that can define their own self is the individual alone. The novel The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult is of a baker named Sage Singer with a large scar on her face. When she meets Josef Weber, an elderly man, in her grief support group they start to befriend one another.
Hester Prynne's Punishment In The 18th Century
1884 Words | 8 PagesThe Scarlet Letter is focalized on the consequences of adultery for a female in Puritan society. A young woman, Hester Prynne, is punished for adultery that resulted in her daughter Pearl. Hawthorne describes the emotional impact of the punishment and how the Puritan society treats Hester afterwards. Hester Prynne is forced to stand on a scaffold in public and wear the letter “A” on her chest as a reminder of her sin. As seen in her punishment, the Puritan justice system is vastly unique from today’s modern justice system.
Birthmark: Compare And Contrast The Relationship Between Georgiana And Aylmer
586 Words | 3 PagesThe relationship between Georgiana and Aylmer is definitely a complicated one. The love for each other I believe is unbalanced and different from both sides. The experts show that Georgina has a deep love for Aylmer and everything that he is, while Aylmer is conflicted because of his background in science. In the beginning, the response towards her birthmark is that it is a charm, but then starts emerging towards a resentment bigger than what Aylmer has.
The Birthmark Character Analysis
573 Words | 3 Pages(Hawthorne 295) This shows that she could not get out of her head the way Aylmer would looked at her birthmark. It scared her to she would continue to have to deal with the ridicule from him. No Matter how many times Georgiana hints at not wanting the procedure done, Aylmer continues to reassure her that she would not be harmed. Aylmer is so overjoyed about the birthmark being gone that he barely realizes his wife is in distress.
Analysis Of Hester Prynne In The Scarlet Letter
896 Words | 4 PagesAlthough publicly admitting to sin can be a challenging task, time will heal the initial pain. Hester Prynne, of the Scarlet Letter, lives this lesson as she commits the sin of adultery. Her punishment for the sin is to wear the letter “A” on her bosom until she is allowed to remove it by the Puritan authorities wishes. Initially, Hester feels guilt and shame as she wears it. As Hester’s character grows in strength, she overcomes the letter’s original purpose of punishment.
Symbolism In The Birthmark By Nathaniel Hawthorne
824 Words | 4 PagesThe first and most important use of symbolism we receive is that of the birthmark. We learn that, “in the centre of Georgians's left cheek, there was a singular mark, deeply interwoven, as it were, with the texture and substance of her face” (205). Upon further reading Hawthorne tells us that, “Its shape bore not a little similarity to the human hand” (205). Georgiana had a birthmark right in the middle of her left cheek that resembled a tiny hand in which Aylmer thought was very imperfect. The birthmark symbolizes mortality or an imperfection of
Compare And Contrast Rappaccini's Daughter And The Birthmark
743 Words | 3 PagesEqually Aylmer and Dr. Rappiccini, both characters in Hawthorne’s works causes destruction of human life with selfish aims to perfect the woman of their choice. In the case of Aylmer’s love interest in science, just as with the case of Beatrice’s father, blinds him to the true beauty and humanity of the woman before him. Aylmer views Georgiana’s birthmark as a symbol of imperfection and tries to remove it. At the end of the story, Georgiana say, "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.
Georgiana's Unhealthy Relationship In The Birthmark By Nathaniel Hawthorne
791 Words | 4 PagesWhen Aylmer and Georgiana got married, Georgiana was taken from her mothers home, making her complete dependent on Aylmer and his opinions. In addition to this, Aylmer’s belief hat he is better than God, and has the ability to remove Georgiana’s birthmark, creates inequality in their relationship. Finally, due to Georgiana’s obsession with what Aylmer thinks of her, paired with Aylmer's rude looks and comments, leads her to do something
Claudio In Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing
397 Words | 2 PagesBy definition, a tragic flaw in a character is the personality trait that will be the cause of their demise. Claudio displays his naive tendencies throughout the play, and is adored for it. This is exampled when his adoration for Hero begins, and he vows to marry her. As he says in Act I scene 1, “I would scarce trust myself though I had sworn the contrary, if Hero would be my wife.”
'Perfect In Georgiana's Birthmark'
686 Words | 3 PagesWe know that us humans can never be perfect but we still try to be and in the birthmark has a good way of showing that. We know that’s the theme because in the story when Aylmer starts pointing out Georgiana’s birthmark she starts getting self-conscious about it. Aylmer’s dislikeness toward her birthmark made her want to remove it and be the perfect thing that Aylmer wanted her to be.. “It needed but a glance with the peculiar expression that his face often wore
More about Examples Of Tragic Flaws In The Birthmark
Comparing Women In The Birthmark And Eye Of The Beholder
502 Words | 3 PagesCompare And Contrast Dr. Heidegger's Experiment And The Birthmark
370 Words | 2 PagesSimilarities Between Hawthorne And The Birthmark
871 Words | 4 PagesOdysseus Is A Hero Essay
865 Words | 4 PagesHow Does Hawthorne Use Satire In Custom House?
1826 Words | 8 PagesJodi Picoult's The Storyteller
1618 Words | 7 PagesHester Prynne's Punishment In The 18th Century
1884 Words | 8 PagesBirthmark: Compare And Contrast The Relationship Between Georgiana And Aylmer
586 Words | 3 PagesThe Birthmark Character Analysis
573 Words | 3 PagesAnalysis Of Hester Prynne In The Scarlet Letter
896 Words | 4 PagesSymbolism In The Birthmark By Nathaniel Hawthorne
824 Words | 4 PagesCompare And Contrast Rappaccini's Daughter And The Birthmark
743 Words | 3 PagesGeorgiana's Unhealthy Relationship In The Birthmark By Nathaniel Hawthorne
791 Words | 4 PagesClaudio In Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing
397 Words | 2 Pages'Perfect In Georgiana's Birthmark'
686 Words | 3 Pages