Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Birthmark

Christian religions believe that God created man in his own image, with the exception of the inclusion of original sin in humans. Humanity is marked out by one universal factor: a common imperfection. Nathaniel Hawthorne illustrates this necessary imperfection in dramatic detail in his short story entitled The Birthmark. 

Additionally, the author addresses a variety of issues, including embracing science to the point of religious fanaticism, the idea of physical expression of spiritual defects, and whether the idea that man can create perfection - when he himself is imperfect - verges on blasphemy. 

When Pygmalion disdained the prostitutes and dishonest women around him, the goddess Aphrodite honored his devotion and piety by granting his wish for a flawless woman; his devotion to pure love was the ultimate honor to the goddess, and the Greek gods rewarded dedication with wishes granted. Christianity does not function along the same terms; the Christian ‘ask and ye shall receive’ does not directly correlate with the ancient Greek ‘if you do this for me I’ll do this for you.’ Still Hawthorne reflects on, even if he does not directly parallel, the story of Pygmalion and Galatea. 

Like Pygmalion, The Birthmark’s main character Aylmer becomes obsessed with perfect beauty to the point of complete rejection of any physical or moral imperfection. Pygmalion carves a perfect statue and prays for her to come to life; his wish is granted and he and Galatea live happily ever after, devoted to each other. Hawthorne writes within the confines of Christianity, which only once allowed a semi-divine being to live amongst humanity. Within these confines, nothing imperfect could construct anything perfect; being fundamentally imperfect prohibits even the ability to completely know perfection.