The Romantic Movement: Human Perfection/Imperfection

             One of the characteristics of the Romantic Movement was exploring nature and natural phenomena. This can be observed in two works of the era, "The Birthmark" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley. Both works followed a script common in the Romantic Era, there is a brooding protagonist, dazzling in his genius, who felt wronged by a natural condition or event. There is the new technology, promising power beyond the scope of humans, power that could even alter nature and shape life to the hero's vision. And there is the shortsightedness, the genius too blinded by his obsession, to question whether or not they should before they did. In these two heroes, Aylmer and Victor Frankenstein, there are similar quests, an ambition to create the ideal human, one free from the imperfections that nature grants. However, instead of reaching their goals, it is this very ambition to alter nature, rather than accept it, attempting to play god, that would fatal flaw, leading to their downfall.
             In the "The Birth-mark" there was a scientist who had just "made experience of a spiritual affinity more attractive than any chemical one."(1) and married her. If he had stuck to the spiritual affinity, perhaps his tale may not have ended in tragedy. Hawthorne characterized Aylmer the scientist as:
             "[Aylmer] had devoted himself, however, too unreservedly to scientific studies ever to be weaned from them by any second passion. His love for his young wife might prove the stronger of the two; but it could only be by intertwining itself with his love of science, and uniting the strength of the latter to his own." (1)
             Aylmer may love his wife, but his love for his wife is only greater than his love for science when it may involve science.
             Aylmer gets his chance soon enough, as he notices there was a birthmark on his otherwise perfect wife's left check. Birthmarks are of course naturally occurring, harmless to one's health and a part of a p...

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