“The philosopher should lay his hand on the secret of creative force and perhaps make new worlds for himself.” (Hawthorne 1) Romantic literature was a new idea of writing, revolting against the classical era. While the classicists were reasonable and conservative, the romantics’ interests were in the supernatural and nature. Nathaniel Hawthorn, an early American romantic, wrote many short stories with this idealism, such as “The Birthmark.” His writing focused on man attempting to sate his desire, supernatural elements, and the uncontrollable power of nature. Hawthorne’s “The Birthmark” is, to this day, a strong example of romanticism.
One of the major characteristics of romanticism is the satisfaction of desire. Georgiana, the wife of Aylmer,