The Birthmark

The birthmark is a potent symbol of human imperfection, and by extension, a symbol of the frailty of the human condition. Because Aylmer and Georgiana’s admirers perceive Georgiana as someone whose beauty is close to perfection, her birthmark is a stark reminder that she is not perfect; she is merely a human being who is subject to all humanity’s failings. The birthmark is a constant physical reminder of what Aylmer calls “his wife’s liability to sin, sorrow, decay, and death.”

The birthmark is also a symbol of Georgiana’s sexuality. The narrator is careful to point out that the birthmark was not a deterrent when Aylmer was courting Georgiana. His neurosis arises after they marry; that is, when sexual intercourse becomes a part of their relationship. The narrator also points out that the mark all but disappears when Georgiana blushes: “When she blushed it gradually became more indistinct, and finally vanished amid the triumphant rush of blood that bathed the whole cheek with its brilliant glow” (Paragraph 7). This description suggests Aylmer has the power to minimize the appearance of the birthmark simply by giving his wife romantic and/or sexual attention. Instead, Aylmer pursues his scientific ambitions and experiments with his wife, destroying her in the process.