Psychoanalysis Of Aylmer In The Birthmark
Psychoanalysis of Aylmer in “The Birthmark”
In pop culture, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, is often used as a synonym for a “neat-freak” or Type-A perfectionist. However, the roots of this mental disorder originate in the human psyche. According to Dr. Wayne Goodman, a professor of Neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, “The symptoms of OCD symbolize the patient's unconscious struggle for control over drives that are unacceptable at a conscious level.” Because literature is often a reflection of the attitudes and emotions felt in reality, fictional characters, like us, are not immune to disorders such as OCD. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Birthmark,” Aylmer experiences obsessive-compulsive disorder as a result …show more content…
This part of the human psyche is meant to balance both the cravings of the id and the reality of the present situation. The ego takes into account other factors while the id focuses on primal needs. Individuals with OCD often lack this self-assessment factor and need to have a third person validating their ego (Bürgy). For Aylmer, his own ego isn’t strong enough to make him realize the consequences of his obsessive actions and he seeks Georgiana’s validation for his attempts at removing her birthmark. This is evident in Georgiana’s attempt at reassuring Aylmer with her dying breath. She says, “‘...you aimed loftily; you have done nobly. Do not repent that with so high and pure a feeling, you have rejected the best the earth could offer...I am dying!’” (Hawthorne, 237). Aylmer’s flawed ego also becomes clear through his defense mechanisms of rationalization and intellectualization (Bürgy). Because of his OCD, he is unable to rid himself of his infatuation with removing Georgiana’s birthmark grows more intolerable of the mark each day. His ego uses rationalization to make this obsession feel acceptable, and this is evident when Aylmer’s psyche begins to identify the birthmark as an evil entity with a dangerous grip on Georgiana. Hawthorne explains this when he says, “...Aylmer’s somber imagination was not long in rendering the birthmark a frightful object…” (221). Aylmer also uses intellectualization to …show more content…
The superego of the psyche acts as a conscience and dictates right from wrong. In cases of OCD, the superego is close to nonexistent when it comes to satisfying an obsession (Bürgy). For Aylmer, his defunct superego becomes clear through his utter lack of ethics. He doesn’t realize that it is wrong to try to play God by removing Georgiana’s natural born flaw, as expressed by Georgiana when she says, “‘It is terrible to possess such power, or even to dream of possessing it.’” (Hawthorne, 228). Nathaniel Hawthorne also uses a foil character to emphasize Aylmer’s flawed conscience. On page 225 of “The Birthmark,” Aylmer’s assistant, Aminadab, says “‘If she were my wife, I’d never part with that birthmark.’” This phrase represents an attempt at showing Aylmer right from wrong, and unfortunately, goes unnoticed by Aylmer. Another interpretation is that Aylmer’s superego causes him to be self-centered regarding the situations that prevent him from getting what he wants. For example, it can be inferred from the story that Aylmer is trying to reach a God-like state, the highest level of spirituality possible, with the help of Georgiana. But because of the mark, he feels she can’t reach this level, and as a result, he won’t be able to either (Richards, 2). Aylmer may also feel that this experiment and the successful removal of Georgiana’s birthmark may be able to mend his
In pop culture, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, is often used as a synonym for a “neat-freak” or Type-A perfectionist. However, the roots of this mental disorder originate in the human psyche. According to Dr. Wayne Goodman, a professor of Neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, “The symptoms of OCD symbolize the patient's unconscious struggle for control over drives that are unacceptable at a conscious level.” Because literature is often a reflection of the attitudes and emotions felt in reality, fictional characters, like us, are not immune to disorders such as OCD. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Birthmark,” Aylmer experiences obsessive-compulsive disorder as a result …show more content…
This part of the human psyche is meant to balance both the cravings of the id and the reality of the present situation. The ego takes into account other factors while the id focuses on primal needs. Individuals with OCD often lack this self-assessment factor and need to have a third person validating their ego (Bürgy). For Aylmer, his own ego isn’t strong enough to make him realize the consequences of his obsessive actions and he seeks Georgiana’s validation for his attempts at removing her birthmark. This is evident in Georgiana’s attempt at reassuring Aylmer with her dying breath. She says, “‘...you aimed loftily; you have done nobly. Do not repent that with so high and pure a feeling, you have rejected the best the earth could offer...I am dying!’” (Hawthorne, 237). Aylmer’s flawed ego also becomes clear through his defense mechanisms of rationalization and intellectualization (Bürgy). Because of his OCD, he is unable to rid himself of his infatuation with removing Georgiana’s birthmark grows more intolerable of the mark each day. His ego uses rationalization to make this obsession feel acceptable, and this is evident when Aylmer’s psyche begins to identify the birthmark as an evil entity with a dangerous grip on Georgiana. Hawthorne explains this when he says, “...Aylmer’s somber imagination was not long in rendering the birthmark a frightful object…” (221). Aylmer also uses intellectualization to …show more content…
The superego of the psyche acts as a conscience and dictates right from wrong. In cases of OCD, the superego is close to nonexistent when it comes to satisfying an obsession (Bürgy). For Aylmer, his defunct superego becomes clear through his utter lack of ethics. He doesn’t realize that it is wrong to try to play God by removing Georgiana’s natural born flaw, as expressed by Georgiana when she says, “‘It is terrible to possess such power, or even to dream of possessing it.’” (Hawthorne, 228). Nathaniel Hawthorne also uses a foil character to emphasize Aylmer’s flawed conscience. On page 225 of “The Birthmark,” Aylmer’s assistant, Aminadab, says “‘If she were my wife, I’d never part with that birthmark.’” This phrase represents an attempt at showing Aylmer right from wrong, and unfortunately, goes unnoticed by Aylmer. Another interpretation is that Aylmer’s superego causes him to be self-centered regarding the situations that prevent him from getting what he wants. For example, it can be inferred from the story that Aylmer is trying to reach a God-like state, the highest level of spirituality possible, with the help of Georgiana. But because of the mark, he feels she can’t reach this level, and as a result, he won’t be able to either (Richards, 2). Aylmer may also feel that this experiment and the successful removal of Georgiana’s birthmark may be able to mend his