The tone of the story is that of a romantic controversy, a dilemma at a high level of existence. The scientist's love for his art competes very intensely with his newfound love for his wife. It is also very psychological, dealing closely with the raw minds of its subjects, as if the brooding narrator is telling the story from inside their minds, rather than observing it from the outside. It describes the processes that can be undertaken to achieve a certain degree of knowledge and to find the elixir of life, which in this story is described as the ultimate goal of the scientific community. Additionally, the narrator is very opinionated about the events of the story. Georgiana is a good wife, and apparently beautiful too. Aylmer expresses deep affection towards his wife, but from the beginning it is implied that his two passions in life will eventually come into conflict. The meaning of the birthmark suddenly changes at the end, but at first it is seen as Georgiana's ability to be imperfect and sin. It is shaped like a human hand because an angel is supposed to grasp it, connecting it to the other world. This is the reaction of most men, but some women consider it disastrous for its beauty. Although Aylmer doesn't initially care about it, it eventually gets to him, obsessively dealing with it. He stared at it every chance he got and tried to be honest about it. When it became apparent that Aylmer was quite concerned about the matter, Georgiana asked him to elaborate. He was more disgusted by the mark than Georgiana appreciated. His most telling response was, "You can't love what upsets you!" She is in fact compromising, offering her life in exchange for her husband's contempt. The bandwagon effect changes Georgiana's thinking towards the target. She then becomes critical of him, begging her husband to remove him in the name of their well-being. He devises a plan and compares himself to Pygmalion, because he is a historical figure who has succeeded in his pursuit of beauty and the gods have approved of it. I think this interference will not be readily approved by any god. What they didn't know, but what she hinted at, was that this sign could be her connection to life and spirits.