Monday, June 17, 2019

CompareContrast Nathaniel Hawthorne's heroines in The BirthMark and Essay

CompareContrast Nathaniel Hawthornes heroines in The BirthMark and Rappaccinis Daughter - Essay ExampleThis has led to a few of them being describe as dark heroines (Bell, 20) Beatrice Rappaccini, the bewitching daughter of the brilliant, but sinister scientist Rappaccini and to a lesser extent, Georgiana Aylmer, the beautiful young wife of the ghost scientist Aylmer, are examples of poignant, yet right dark heroines.This short essay shall compare and contrast the heroines of two of Hawthornes short stories, The Birth-Mark and Rappaccinis Daughter respectively. This essay shall cite appropriately from them and other secondary sources to show that, while both the heroines aver to their purity of character by their ultimate sacrifices, Hawthornes portrayal of Beatrice Rappaccini more than Georgiana Aylmer, aptly suits a dark heroine.Both The Birth-Mark and Rappaccinis Daughter of Hawthorne warn the society regarding the excessive pursuit of science and engineering without morality. The stories end as tragedies with the heroines falling victims to the evil obsessions of the dominant men around them. In The Birth-Mark Hawthorne depicts his heroine Georgiana as a powerful image of beauty, that she is praised by her husband Aylmer as one who came so nearly perfect from the hand of Nature (The Birth-Mark 1021). She is young and beautiful, but for one visible mark of earthly imperfection (The Birth-Mark 1021) on her cheek. ... er husband in particular, and the male world in general perceived as negative - Masculine observers contented themselves with wishing it away, that the world might induce one living specimen of ideal loveliness without the semblance of a flaw (The Birth-Mark 1022). Indeed this becomes the focal point of the story itself, and ultimately causes her death. Hawthorne introduces the component part of evil in the form of Aylmer, young Georgianas science-loving husband what was trivial matter to him before marriage, appears more and more intolerab le with every moment to him after marriage, and he is obsessed with removing it, so as to make her perfect. I am convinced of the perfect practicability of its removal he retorts to her innermost fears of it being fatal. Here again Hawthorne introduces the element of fantasy in the form of Georgianas dream, of approaching doom. He scorns, scoffs, chides, coaxes and cajoles her (The Birth-Mark, pp. 1027-8) to have trust in his science, and even tries to hide the fact that it may be dangerous (The Birth-Mark, p.1030). though Hawthornes heroine is aware that the experiment may not be to her advantage, she is sweet and pure in character, loves her husband so much that she is unable to see him pained oer the blemish in her cheek. She would rather give her life than allow it to stand between their happiness, and begs him Remove it, remove it, whatever be the cost, or we shall both go mad (The Birth-Mark 1030) That her love is pure and untainted is explicitly brought out by Hawthorne throu gh her quiet words There needed no proof part me the goblet I joyfully stake all upon your word (The Birth-Mark, 1031). She remains true in her love for her husband, till her dying moment, though she allows him to realize his stupidity of

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