4x The Birthmark
Nathaniel Hawthorne
¹ One day, very soon after their marriage, Aylmer sat gazing at his wife with a
trouble in his countenance that grew stronger until he spoke.
2 "Georgiana," said he, "has it never occurred to you that the mark upon your
cheek might be removed?"
3-No, indeed," said she, smiling; but perceiving the seriousness of his
manner, she blushed deeply. "To tell you the truth it has been so often called a
charm that I was simple enough to imagine it might be so."
4"Ah, upon another face perhaps it might," replied her husband; "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."
5-Shocks you, my husband!" cried Georgiana, deeply hurt; at first reddening
with momentary anger, but then bursting into tears. "Then why did you take
me from my mother's side? You cannot love what shocks you!"
To explain this conversation it must be mentioned that in the center of
Georgiana's left cheek there was a singular mark, deeply interwoven, as it
were, with the texture and substance of her face. In the usual state of her
complexion- a healthy though delicate bloom--the mark wore a tint of
4x Which BEST describes a theme in the passage?
A The truth often hurts.
4x B
x
x
C
4x D
Men are from Mars; women are from Venus.
Love conquers all.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
