.

Friday, May 15, 2020

The Spiritual and Physical Dimensions in The Birthmark Essay

The Spiritual and Physical Dimensions in The Birthmark Fred Allen Wolf notes in Taking the Quantum Leap that it was not until the 20th century that scientists realized that â€Å"to observe is to disturb, for observation breaks the wholeness of nature.† If observing disturbs, then when a scientist tampers and tries to perfect nature the result can only be disastrous. The goal of most scientists is to observe and understand the mysteries of nature. Nathaniel Hawthorne realized that the scientists of the 19th century were beginning to challenge the traditional views of science and man. The traditional view of man holds that man is both material and spiritual. Advancements in science led some scientists to begin to think that man was only†¦show more content†¦This is evidenced when the narrator makes reference to the fact that Aylmer â€Å"had studied the wonders of the human frame, and attempted to fathom the very process by which Nature assimilates all her precious influences from earth and air,† (2). Aylmer did not want to accept the reality that there was a mystery of life that was beyond our understanding and ability to manipulate. According to the narrator, â€Å"Aylmer had long laid aside in unwilling recognition of the truth† that â€Å"our great creative Mother, while she amuses us with apparently working in the broadest sunshine, is careful to keep her own secrets,† (2). He laid aside the reality of the real spiritual world that lies beyond the grasp of man because he was unwilling to face his own limitations as a man and scientist. As he embarked on his plan to perfect Georgiana, he continued to lay aside the truth because the truth lay in â€Å"the path of his proposed scheme for the treatment of Georgiana,† (2). William E. Grant comments that Aylmer â€Å"is the archetype for all Hawthorne’s scientists, since he represents both what is best and what is worst about all of them,† (3). His goal was honorable, that is to rid Georgiana of her defect, hi s denial of the truth, that his abilities were in fact limited, was his downfall. It isn’t till later, that we see a glimpse that he has begun to recognize his limitations as he faces the reality of a real and powerful spiritual world.Show MoreRelatedThe Tell Tale Heart And The Birth Mark Only A Couple Of Months Apart1428 Words   |  6 Pagespersonal account of a young man’s descent into madness as he becomes increasingly fixated on the eye of an older man, presumably his father. Similarly, The Birth-Mark narrates the story of a young couple, Aylmer and Georgiana, and how the latter’s birthmark becomes the obsession of the former. Poe and Hawthorne’s literary genre of Dark Romanticism opposes human perfectibility, and both writers employ symbolism, irony, similar characters and plot to convey the theme that obsessions will inevitably leadRead More Essay on the Woman Protagonist in The Birthmark1856 Words   |  8 PagesWoman Protagonist in â€Å"The B irthmark†Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      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 attractiveRead MorePeace and Granduer in The Romantic Temper775 Words   |  3 Pages Seeing past the flawed, faith in possibilities and insistence on equal opportunities for all defined the Romantic’s outlook and attitude. With sights firmly set on the wonders of another dimension, The Romantic Temper is filled with thoughts of peace and grandeur. The ability to imagine and fantasize is what allowed for the Romantic man to flourish, even the most turbulent times. In the mid-century the Romantic artists in America experienced their nation’s capital burned to the ground, the panicRead More The Psychological Dimension of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Birthmark3161 Words   |  13 PagesThe Psychological Dimension of 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† in order to demonstrate that it is a â€Å"psychological† short story both in its themes and in its emphasis on the moral-psychological aspect of the main characters. There is probably unanimity among literary critics that Hawthorne is a â€Å"psychological† writer. Consider some of their statements chosen at random from various critiques of Hawthorne’s literary works: StanleyRead MoreThe Birthmark: A Psychological Short Story Essay3606 Words   |  15 Pagesâ€Å"The Birthmark† Is a Psychological Story  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   The psychological dimension of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s writing, typical of his best short stories, is well demonstrated in his tale â€Å"The Birthmark.†    Frederick C. Crews in â€Å"The Logic of Compulsion in ‘Roger Malvin’s Burial’† explores the psychological drama that prevails in Hawthorne’s short stories:    . . . I chose this one tale to analyze because it illustrates the indispensability, and I should even say the priorityRead MoreCase Study About Pneumonia10478 Words   |  42 Pagescondition, together with her spiritual aspect as evidenced by seldomly praying and attending the weekly mass upon interview even PTA. | 21 Nursing Problems | Faye Glenn Abdellah | â€Å"Although Abdellah spoke of the patient-centered approaches, she wrote of nurses identifying and solving specific problems. This identification and classification of problems was called the typology of 21 nursing problems. Abdellah’s typology was divided into three areas: (1) the physical, sociological, and emotional needs

No comments:

Post a Comment