English 11

Both passages reveal that when man tries to change what nature has created through science it results in tragedy, and failure. In "The Birthmark", Aylmer tries to change what nature created by removing Georgiana's birthmark. In "Rappaccinni's Daughter", Rappaccinni goes agaisnt nature by poisoning her and forcing her to live in a garden forever. In the "Birthmark" Alymer is so obsessively disgusted by Georgiana"s birthmark that he convinces her that e should remove it with the power of science.Alymer feels as though nature made the most beautiful woman to ever live with the exception of her one and only imperfection, the birthmark. He wants to defy nature by removing the birthmark, and making the most beautiful woman alive perfect. Alymer says " but never on yours. No dearest, Georgiana, you came so nearly perfect from the hand of Nature that this slightest possible defect, which we hesitate whether to term a defect or a beauty, shocks me, as being the visible mark of earthly imperfection." (Page 1) While Georgiana and Alymer are in the lab, Alymer shows her the most perfect, and lovely fower. Georgiana says "It is magical!" (Page 6) When Alymer plucks the flower and Hands it to Georgiana it whithers, and dies immediately. This was foreshawdowing because the flower was a symbol of Georgiana. Something or someone beautiful, just withering away, and dying. Alymer also has many potions that defied the laws of nature. He had a potion that would make someone immortal. This is an example of how Alymer attempted to be God like, and change the things that man should have no control over. When Alymer finally removed Georgiana's birthmark she died. Georgiana's final words were ".. you have rejected the best the earth could offer. Alymer, dearest Alymer, I am dying!" Although he was successful in removing the birthmark he killed his wfe. Her birthmark was the thing keeping her alive in human form. In " Rappaccinni's Daughter", Rappaccinni tries to go against nature by poisoning his daughter. This poison causes her to kill everything she touches. He also encloses