The Birthmark

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1843

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Summary

Story Analysis

Character Analysis

Themes

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Discussion Questions

Essay Topics

Many of modern medicine’s goals can be contextualized as the pursuit of human perfectibility. What do you think Hawthorne would suggest are the ethical implications of this sort of work?

Explore the gender dynamics of love and marriage as presented in “The Birthmark.” Through the negative example of Aylmer and Georgiana’s relationship, what do you think Hawthorne’s ideal marriage would look like?

Identify one moment in the short story that might inspire a sense of revulsion in the reader and analyze the setting of this moment. How do the environmental details of the setting enhance the gothic reading experience?