In "The Birthmark" a very beautiful woman allows herself to be "duped" into believing that she needs to have a "flaw" removed from her appearance. In the process, she dies.
I recently heard from a former colleague in Idaho who told me that a student we both had taught had recently died from complications of cosmetic surgery. This girl was a former cheerleader, and as I recall an attractive person. What is it that causes women (mostly women) to abuse their bodies in an attempt to achieve the perfect form?
Why don't men seem to be as obsessed with physical appearance that women are?
Who was at fault, Aylmar or Georgiana?
Grant T. Smith
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Good Looking Kid
Welcome to a semester of discovering Early American Literature--and in the process, discovering an American Self. We learn much about ouselves by reading about others; this page is designed to give you an opportunity to share your "Self" with others as we read Early American Writers. As you share your thoughts with your colleagues, take note of what you learn about your identity as an "American."
Grant T. Smith
About Me
- Grant T. Smith
- I am from Idaho, but I have been in the Midwest now since 1989. I have a Ph. D. in American Literature from the U of Iowa. My wife died a few years ago, and so I am raising a 10-year-old by myself. I also have a 21-year-old son in La Crosse and a 24-year-old daughter in Utah.
KC James
Good Looking Kid
Viterbo University San Damiano
5 comments:
While reading the story, I found Aylmar to be mostly at fault. I recall that in the beginning the wife was upset and a bit offended by her husband's remarks about her birth-mark. But, after continuously "shuddering" and acting disgusted by the mark, her thinking shifts and in order to please her husband, she consents to let him remove the mark.
After the story, I felt that the large amount of the blame went to the husband for wanting to "perfect" his wife; yet I also feel that Georgiana should have stood up for herself and defended the way she looked.
I don't think I could answer for all women on why we "abuse our bodies in an attempt to achieve the perfect form." Partly because I do not know the reasons behind why women consent to this "abuse" and also because I have never, nor plan on ever getting any kind of cosmetic surgery. As for things that are considered basic grooming (that is, plucking eyebrows, shaving, shoving massive amounts of bobby pins into our scalps, etc) I personally do those things because I feel that they are considered to make a woman feel put together, clean, feminine and beautiful for ourselves and others. Besides, would you really want to take a woman with thick hairy legs or armpits out?
Catrina makes some good comments. Georgiana is as much a victim of psychological abuse as she is a victim of physical abuse. Her husband degrades her (subtly) until she does not believe in herself. She does not think she is "worthy" to be his wife in her present condition.
In response to her question regarding armpits and legs. The fact is that in many European countries it is not considered un-feminine or un-sanitary for a woman to leave her legs and armpits alone. This is purely a cultural thing. Clearly the European men don't find the women's "hair" a turnoff.
Thanks for your comments. GTS
Oh, and I want to add one more thing. What is "basic grooming?" For men basic grooming is a shower and sometimes a shave of the face. But for women, basic grooming includes much more--including some things that are uncomfortable if not painful.
GTS
I think that the reason women want cosmetic surgery and want to be perfect is because that is how celebreties appear to be. Many women want to look like celebreties. But women need to realize that celebreties are just like you and I. If magazine editors wouldnt airbrush the pictures they would have flaws just like we do.
This goes along with the story the birthmark because Georgiana is convinced that she is not perfect by her husband. I would say that Aylmar is kind of like the celebreties. Celebreties want to be perfect so everyone else wants to be perfect too. And Aylmar wanted Georgiana to be perfect so he convinced her to believe she needed to be perfect to.
Like Catrina, I can not answer to why women abuse their bodies but I do feel that celebreties and their size 2 have alot of the influence.
Their are many more reason why women chose to to those kinds of things but I think that nowadays this is what has the most to do with it.
Teresa--I tend to agree with you. The media influence is always tremendous, especially on young girls who see Lindsey Lohan as a role model. But I think that there are many other factors that lead to women perceiving their bodies as imperfect.
Another question: Are men falling into the same condition of seeing their worth defined by their "beauty?" I work out every MWF, and I think that I do it to keep healthy. Can men be as vain as women?
One final thought: I was amused that so much press was given to Hillary Clinton's neckline a few weeks ago. The WASHINGTON POST ran an article on Clinton's "cleavage." The male candidates for President never have their physical appearance or sexuality scrutinized by others.
Any thoughts?
Post a Comment