Hawthorne is a moralist, so you don't read his work without coming away with something to ponder. This is a tale about pride (Aylmer's), about worthiness and sacrifice (Georgiana's), and about recognizing what is important and worthwhile in life. Most of today's society that focuses too much on the surface, celebrity, and wealth of individuals when determining their worth, could use taking a moment to read this.

Many thanks to my dear friend, Elyse, for reminding me of this marvelous work of literature by a master story writer. ( )

perfection = death

This short story was just okay at best. Aylmer, who was a brilliant scientist, was pretty much a jerk. He supposedly loved his wife yet he obsessed day and night over the birthmark on her cheek wondering how to rid her of her imperfection. ( )

Short story about a great scientist (Aylmer) who becomes fixated on his wife's birthmark, which is on her cheek, to the point where he goes to any lengths to remove it. I didn't like Aylmer at all. ( )

(1843) A young woman has always thought that the small birthmark on her cheek was rather a charming feature. Certainly none of her many beaus ever thought it detracted from her beauty. But the man she finally married not only sees it as a flaw, but becomes obsessed with this imperfection, and insists on trying medical and alchemical methods to remove it.

This obsession leads to the destruction of the couple's happiness, some ethically suspect actions, and, of course, eventual tragedy.

The whole piece is heavily allegorical and works as a metaphor for the potential that all of have to let small things bother us more than they should. I actually thought the piece would've been stronger if the message was a little less heavy-handed, and a little less religious.

(Previously read... many years ago.) ( )