I agree with Baym when she states that Nathaniel Hawthorne is a feminist writer, especially for his time. The main character and her interactions with her husband show that he is in fact “feminist” in a way. In Hawthorne’s “The Birthmark” the main character Aylmer is married to a beautiful woman named Georgiana who was born with a noticeable birthmark on her face. She has always found confidence in her birthmark because she said that “it has been so often called a charm…I imagine it might be so.” She sees her birthmark as a charm and gift almost. Aylmer states that her birthmark “shocks him” and is a “visible mark of earthly imperfection.” This shows Aylmer’s opinions on the expectation of perfection in women. He goes on to encourage Georgiana to remove the birthmark and convinces her that she should rather die than live with it on her face. She begs to have it removed despite the danger that comes with it. She dies as the last part of her birthmark goes away. Her last words were “you have rejected the best that earth could offer. Aylmer-dearest Aylmer-I am dying!”
Hawthorne’s writing here shows that men expect and have this entitled feeling towards perfection, especially in women. Aylmer expected his wife to go and fix her flaw so that she could become perfect. Hawthorne shows his support and empathy for women and the expectation of perfection and beauty. He makes the point here that men , instead of trying to fix women, should love and accept their flaws. I think it could also be said that Hawthorne sees beauty in her “flaw”. At the beginning of the story he states that it is seen as a charm, but her husband convinces her otherwise. A message found in that would be that men should not just accept women for their flaws, but should find beauty in those flaws. Love the women because of her flaws, not despite them.
Landis' American History Blog 