Aylmer

Aylmer is the story’s deeply flawed protagonist. He is a renowned scientist, and his passion for science is rivaled only by his passion for his young, beautiful wife, Georgiana. However, Aylmer becomes obsessed with the birthmark on Georgiana’s cheek, which Aylmer views as Georgiana’s only physical flaw. Aylmer soon becomes convinced that if he is able to remove the birthmark, he will have proven his ability to eliminate imperfections that, in his mind, seem to be inherent to all natural creations.

After Georgiana agrees to let Aylmer try to remove the birthmark, Aylmer secludes himself and Georgiana in the apartments where his laboratory is housed. Despite the fact that all of Aylmer’s past experiments and inventions have never reached his hopes or expectations, he is confident that he will be able to remove Georgiana’s birthmark. He feeds Georgiana a concoction that does successfully...