Foreshadowing
Aylmer's Dream Sequence
Aside from minor instances of foreshadowing in the story (such as the subtle but repeated reference to Georgiana's mark as "the fatal birthmark), there is only one major occurrence of this device. Early on in the story, Aylmer has a dream about Georgiana's birthmark and how "it is in her heart now" (422). This scene foreshadows the ultimate death of Aylmer's wife, virtually at his hand. The foreshadowing in Aylmer's dream sequence is surprisingly blatant, as Aylmer dreams of trying to remove the birthmark, realizing it goes all the way into her heart, and cutting his wife's heart open to eliminate the birthmark, even if it kills her (423). Come back to Aylmer's waking reality, and this is exactly what happens (albeit without the literal hacking into Georgiana's heart). A removal of the birthmark is attempted and is successful, only in exchange for Georgiana's life. Aylmer basically sentences his wife to death in his attempt to remove the little hand on her cheek. |
"Aylmer now remembered his dream. He had fancied himself with his servant Aminadab, attempting an operation for the removal of the birthmark; but the deeper went the knife, the deeper sank the hand, until at length its tiny grasp appeared to have caught hold of Georgiana's heart; whence, however, her husband was inexorably resolved to cut or wrench it away." (Hawthorne 423)
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