“…The hand on her face had been her link to life…” A Feminist Investigation of "The Birthmark,” by Nathaniel Hawthorne Anonymous College

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Birthmark” deals with the theme: “Undervaluation of Women”: the plot merits a feminist criticism because it brings to light the extent to which that men can go to have “trophy wives” that are impeccable. In the quest to have fine-looking trophy wives, the women are deprived of the prospect to live their lives as they are only made to do things that will gratify their husbands. Aylmer’s preoccupation with fixing the mark on Georgiana’s face is analogous to body shaming. “The Birthmark” follows a feminist agenda: A feminist reading of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Birthmark” pinpoints the deleterious effects of compelling women to toe the line on their husbands’ demands, effects of body shaming women and undervaluing them.

Aylmer is a stickler who does not any blemish on his wife’s (Georgiana) face. When Georgina tells her that she has never been engrossed in having the mark detached from her cheek, he tells her, “nature made you so perfectly that this small defect shocks me as being a sign of earthly imperfection." If Georgian feels relaxed with the mark, why would her husband feel that the mark is corresponding to defectiveness? Aylmer’s insentient desire is to have a stunning , faultless wife devoid of...