Does Media Fuel Perfection

In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s, “The Birthmark”, the main character Aylmer embodies modern society and their views of perfection/imperfection. Throughout the short story Aylmer could not bring himself to look past his wife’s birthmark, a birthmark that was widely perceived as beautiful. He slowly begins to obsess about it ultimately turning to science to fix it. Aylmer initially hints to the removal of the birthmark when he says, “Georgiana, has it never occurred to you that the mark upon your cheek might be removed?” (Hawthorne 84). This slowly turns into the sole focus of Aylmer’s thoughts and the demise of Georgiana’s happiness.

            In modern day society people strive for perfection in many different ways. From surgeries to supplements the perception of beauty is constructed through the media. There are complex industries that are formed and become successful for the sole reason of perfecting someone’s body. Plastic surgery although a different form of science than Aylmer, removes peoples “imperfections” and allows people to be “beautiful”. But is this really beauty? It is people that strive to be perfect who have the ultimate imperfections and although may be externally beautiful remain tarnished underneath. The extreme cost and risk alone should deter people from partaking in these actions but the feeling of looking beautiful far supersedes the risk.

            Although not all want to participate in these dramatic surgeries they still feel the ultimate sense of dissatisfaction internally. This is seen predominantly seen in females who a plagued with magazines of what appear to be the “perfect” women. This creates problems such a depression, anorexia, or even bulimia in order to appear more like the models and actresses seen in the magazines. This is comparable to Georgiana being constantly told by her husband she needs to be changed. If someone you care about is persistently telling you there is something wrong with your body eventually one will take that personally and to heart. These are what magazines girls trust and feel not normal if looking different. I am not saying this only happens in females but they give the most accurate comparison to Georgiana.

            Aylmer ultimately realizes that he should have just embraced Georgiana’s birthmark and that he was the truly unhappy one. He failed to look past her imperfection, “The momentary circumstance was too strong for him; he failed to look beyond the shadowy scope of time” (99). Once someone has altered their body will they truly be happy? Or will they realize that they have given into societies perception of perfect and not appreciate that each imperfection we have been given makes us an individual, which is truly perfect.