Is idealism or striving for perfection a kind of madness? How does this connect with the desire to dominate or control nature? How does Aylmer represent these desires, and what do you think Poe is saying through this character?
17 comments:
Anonymous
said...
I think that striving for prefection is a kind of maddness. For instance if you do your hair all nice like and there is a little thing wrong with it that it annoyes you for the rest of the day or untill to fix it. Almer represents these desires when he trys to fix the birth mark on georgianas face. Poe is saying that not everything is perfect.
i agree wioth mitch in that it is madness. if god intended for people to be "perfect" then he would have made us that way, but obsessing over the littlest detailes is insane
Striving for perfection is not a type of madness. It is a simple choice that happens to be made by most people. People want to control nature because it may make life easier. Poe is using Aylmer to represent the average person and how obsessive one can become over this pursuit.
Striving for perfect and being idealistic is more of an obsession rather than a madness. Madness cannot be cured, simply because no person, object, or situation will ever be perfect. This will never happen because humans always want to improve what they have, otherwise they become bored. Because of this tendency, humans have created ways that they can get as close to perfect as possible, like plastic surgery, cloning, hair/makeup products, tanning booths, etc. With these methods, we can feel more in control of appearances, situations, and our lives. I don't like matt's responce, because it incorporates the so-called "God" into this, which is something no one can be sure is true, and it's more of a Christian's perspective rather than a universal answer. Hawthorne is using Aylmer as a character that represents scientists, inventors and people obsessed with being perfect that would go to sick levels to improve things that are already great just as they are.
I believe that nature should not be controlled and if attempted the person will be consumed by it as were the fountain of youth seekers and Aylmer's wife. I think that people should not have to be change. If Aylmer was unhappy with his wife than he should have never married her to begin with.
Yes I believe striving for perfection is a kind of madness. Its ok to try and make things better but if one little flaw will continue to bother your for all eternity theirs a problem. No one is perfect or ever will be because "beauty is in the eyes of the beholder" or in otherwords, what one person considers "perfect" may not be for someone else. Its connected to a desire to controll nature because nothing in nature is ever perfect but some people like Aylmer are obsessed with the idea of being better than some all powerfull being. I think poe is saying people need to just accept some things. -David S.
I think that striving for perfection is somewhat a madness beause you shouldn't have to make yourself better you should be happy the way you are. This connects with desire to control nature because you are trying to change something that has already been created and was meant to stay like that and not be changed. Alymer represents these desires because he wants to change what nature has made, Georgiana's birthmark. I think Hawthorne is trying to say through Alymer that you should not have to change anything that has been created by nature, it is beautiful just the way it happens to come out.
Striving for perfection is not a type of madness because it invariably improves the lives of many people every day. If people didn't attempt to dominate nature, we would not have any of the technological advances that we have today. Aylmer seems to be a way of saying that it can also go way too far and ultimately cause pain and suffering.
Generally speaking, I would say that striving for perfection (as far as appearance is concerned) is indeed a sort of madness. In the story, Aylmer certainly shows qualities that make him seem insane, because of his strong desire to have the birthmark removed. He even dreams about the birthmark and constantly stares at it and thinks about it.
Even in current day, people are obsessed with perfected their bodies through removing bodily imperfections, and other methods such as plastic surgery. Many people believe that cosmetic surgeries like these are indeed addicting and will drive people mad.
I think that through Aylmer, Poe is saying that people will always strive for perfection.
I think that going for perfection is a life goal that no one can achieve. It will drive you into madness. Alymer is representing poes desire to say everyone goes for perfection.
I believe that striving for perfection is a kind of madness. In my opinion I don't even consider perfect a thing that is attainable, unless it's something like getting a 100 on a quiz or test, other than that nothing really defines perfect, as in appearence of people. This connects with the desire to dominate and control nature because Alymer wants to remove the birthmark that Georgiana was born with. He can't accept the fact that it's who she is. The image of this hand haunts Alymer to the point where it's unbearable to look at his own wife. Alymer represents these desires by the actions and reactions to even just looking at Georgiana. I think what the author is saying through Alymer is acceptance is the most important thing that you should aquire when living your life, even though Alymer represents the total opposite this story shows a lesson to learn and that is acceptance.
Idealism is a madness. You can never reach absolute perfection, and that might just bring you to insanity. This connects to the desire to control nature because no matter how hard you try, you cant change nature. Aylmer represents these desires because he is trying to change something that Georgiana was born with. Poe is saying that no matter how hard you try, nothing will be perfect.
17 comments:
I think that striving for prefection is a kind of maddness. For instance if you do your hair all nice like and there is a little thing wrong with it that it annoyes you for the rest of the day or untill to fix it. Almer represents these desires when he trys to fix the birth mark on georgianas face. Poe is saying that not everything is perfect.
Mitch M
i agree wioth mitch in that it is madness. if god intended for people to be "perfect" then he would have made us that way, but obsessing over the littlest detailes is insane
Matt D
Striving for perfection is not a type of madness. It is a simple choice that happens to be made by most people. People want to control nature because it may make life easier. Poe is using Aylmer to represent the average person and how obsessive one can become over this pursuit.
Chadd Y.
Striving for perfect and being idealistic is more of an obsession rather than a madness. Madness cannot be cured, simply because no person, object, or situation will ever be perfect. This will never happen because humans always want to improve what they have, otherwise they become bored. Because of this tendency, humans have created ways that they can get as close to perfect as possible, like plastic surgery, cloning, hair/makeup products, tanning booths, etc. With these methods, we can feel more in control of appearances, situations, and our lives. I don't like matt's responce, because it incorporates the so-called "God" into this, which is something no one can be sure is true, and it's more of a Christian's perspective rather than a universal answer. Hawthorne is using Aylmer as a character that represents scientists, inventors and people obsessed with being perfect that would go to sick levels to improve things that are already great just as they are.
-catie k.
*madness can be cured, whereas the obsession with idealism and with striving to be perfect cannot be cure
(sorry)
-catie
It could be drive someone to become mad, but then they must REALLY become obsessed with what they want to do.
<33 Courtney C. Pompey
P.S. I thought Hawthorne wrote this story
I believe that nature should not be controlled and if attempted the person will be consumed by it as were the fountain of youth seekers and Aylmer's wife. I think that people should not have to be change. If Aylmer was unhappy with his wife than he should have never married her to begin with.
Nick B.
Yes I believe striving for perfection is a kind of madness. Its ok to try and make things better but if one little flaw will continue to bother your for all eternity theirs a problem. No one is perfect or ever will be because "beauty is in the eyes of the beholder" or in otherwords, what one person considers "perfect" may not be for someone else. Its connected to a desire to controll nature because nothing in nature is ever perfect but some people like Aylmer are obsessed with the idea of being better than some all powerfull being. I think poe is saying people need to just accept some things.
-David S.
I think that striving for perfection is somewhat a madness beause you shouldn't have to make yourself better you should be happy the way you are. This connects with desire to control nature because you are trying to change something that has already been created and was meant to stay like that and not be changed. Alymer represents these desires because he wants to change what nature has made, Georgiana's birthmark. I think Hawthorne is trying to say through Alymer that you should not have to change anything that has been created by nature, it is beautiful just the way it happens to come out.
Hilaurie
Striving for perfection is not a type of madness because it invariably improves the lives of many people every day. If people didn't attempt to dominate nature, we would not have any of the technological advances that we have today. Aylmer seems to be a way of saying that it can also go way too far and ultimately cause pain and suffering.
-Greg A
Generally speaking, I would say that striving for perfection (as far as appearance is concerned) is indeed a sort of madness. In the story, Aylmer certainly shows qualities that make him seem insane, because of his strong desire to have the birthmark removed. He even dreams about the birthmark and constantly stares at it and thinks about it.
Even in current day, people are obsessed with perfected their bodies through removing bodily imperfections, and other methods such as plastic surgery. Many people believe that cosmetic surgeries like these are indeed addicting and will drive people mad.
I think that through Aylmer, Poe is saying that people will always strive for perfection.
- Nick P
I think that going for perfection is a life goal that no one can achieve. It will drive you into madness. Alymer is representing poes desire to say everyone goes for perfection.
- Kevin w
I believe that striving for perfection is a kind of madness. In my opinion I don't even consider perfect a thing that is attainable, unless it's something like getting a 100 on a quiz or test, other than that nothing really defines perfect, as in appearence of people. This connects with the desire to dominate and control nature because Alymer wants to remove the birthmark that Georgiana was born with. He can't accept the fact that it's who she is. The image of this hand haunts Alymer to the point where it's unbearable to look at his own wife. Alymer represents these desires by the actions and reactions to even just looking at Georgiana. I think what the author is saying through Alymer is acceptance is the most important thing that you should aquire when living your life, even though Alymer represents the total opposite this story shows a lesson to learn and that is acceptance.
Kaylee
striving for pefection isn't madness, its a good goal but it can never be reached, you can't control nature whats supposed to happen will happen
Idealism is a madness. You can never reach absolute perfection, and that might just bring you to insanity. This connects to the desire to control nature because no matter how hard you try, you cant change nature. Aylmer represents these desires because he is trying to change something that Georgiana was born with. Poe is saying that no matter how hard you try, nothing will be perfect.
Ashley McLeod
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