The allegorical subjects, Science and Nature, rival each other in the multitude of themes in "The Birthmark" by Nathaniel Hawthorne. These conflicting concepts are represented through the characters Aylmer, Georgiana and Aminadab who are influenced by the enigmatic symbol of the birthmark in which they aim for its extermination. The male protagonist, Aylmer, is a man of science. Its role in the realm of scientific spirituality is to aspire to what is naturally impossible: the removal of craving. Although the birthmark may vanish superficially, the obstacle to its elimination is the symbol that Aylmer prefigures as “sin, pain, decay and death” (Hawthorne) nestled in the soul provided by Nature. These attributes that Aylmer classifies with respect to desire are reflected in himself. He commits the sins of Greed and Wrath through his excessive desire to control nature and his uncontrollable hatred against desire. Later, his desire to conquer nature is demonstrated through the selection of his books and his past scientific experiments that he displays. Georgiana in the boudoir. For example, in his possession there are various miraculous mixtures such as the cosmetic that permanently removes freckles or the elixir of immortality, claims Aylmer, which can kill any accepting individual with a banal measure. “It is the most precious poison that has ever been prepared in this world. With his help, I could split the life of any mortal you could point your finger at. (Hawthorne) He cunningly calls it the Elixir of Immortality when it actually puts an end to mortality. With only his knowledge of what the lethal sums are, he maintains power over any rich person or... middle of paper..., I would never part with that desire." signifying Aminadab's awareness of the value that would be lost if the symbol were removed. Human beings are perfect since creation and are born with defects that prefigure their finite existence. It is established that what is completely perfect cannot exist in the mortal realm. Mosses from an Old Manse.Web. University of California Press, 1987. JSTORWeb 2011.Thompson, W.R. “Aminadab in Hawthorne's 'The Birthmark'.” Notes on Modern Language. The John Hopkins University Press/JSTOR, 1955. JSTOR Network. July 2011. “Vascular Birthmarks.” President and Fellow of Harvard College. Health and Wellness Resource Center. July 2011.