William F. Buckley Jr. once said, “Idealism is fine; but as it approaches reality, the cost becomes prohibitive.” This means it is acceptable to pursue perfection. However, the further someone takes this pursuit, the consequences will become more difficult or even impossible to pay. This quote is proven to be in true in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story, “The Birthmark” as well as people’s lives around the world today.
In “The Birthmark”, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the determination of Aylmer to explore idealism. Aylmer was resolute on removing a birthmark on the face of his wife to make her completely perfect. When attempting to convince his wife that removing this birthmark was a realistic wish, Aylmer said, “"I am convinced of the perfect practicability of its removal" (Hawthorne 4). This is when the ideal started to approach reality. It was acceptable for him to desire a perfect wife, but pursing this aspiration led to him losing her forever. “As the last crimson tint of the birthmark—that sole token of human imperfection—faded from her cheek, the parting breath of the now perfect woman passed into the atmosphere, and her soul, lingering a moment near her husband, took its heavenward flight” (Hawthorne 15). Aylmer’s ideal actually did become a reality, but at the same time he paid the ultimate price.
Idealism in the world today can also lead to death, especially suicide. According to a 2007 study by the Critical Illness and Trauma Foundation, “Researchers conducted interviews with the friends and family members of people who had recently killed themselves. Without prompting, more than half of the deceased were described as “perfectionists” by their loved ones” (Dahl 1). This correlation shows that striving for perfection can have dour consequences. In a more recent 2013 study, the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit said, “More than 70 percent of 33 boys and young men who had killed themselves were said by their parents to have placed “exceedingly high” demands and expectations on themselves — traits associated with perfectionism” (Dahl 1). This shows that society has made people feel so pressured that they are willing to resort to suicide if they can’t see themselves as perfect.
The pursuit of perfection is a dangerous one. This was expressed by Nathaniel Hawthorne in “The Birthmark” which was published in the 1800’s. Unfortunately, this is still demonstrated all around the world today. Everyone is expected to want to be perfect, however, sometimes this desire can be life threatening.
Works Cited:
Dahl, Melissa. "The Alarming New Research on Perfectionism." Science of Us. N.p., 30 Sept. 2014. Web. 27 Apr. 2016.
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