Eve's Daughter, Mary's Child: Women's Representation in Hawthorne's 'The Birthmark'- Kary Meyers Skredsvig

 This academic article delves into the feminist perception of the Birthmark.  Author Kary Meyers Skredsvig discusses the symbolism of the characters Aylmer, Georgiana and Aminadab in regards to their gender roles. She focuses on how their roles as males and females affect their perception of dominance and submission. Because Aylmer and Aminadab are males they have a higher status in society. Georgiana, being a women is looked down upon. Skredsvig compares Georgiana to biblical Eve and Mary as a way to represent her a demon or an angel. Her birthmark marks her as imperfect and is a flaw that is ingrained all the way down to her soul. Her submission and willingness to remove this impurity and make herself perfect for her husbands approval is the angelic essence within her.