What does the work reveal about the operations (economically, politically, socially, or psychologically) of patriarchy?

"The Birth-Mark" remains one of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s most thought-provoking works, one that considers the perils of human pride, the conflict between religion and science, and gender politics during the late 1700s. In these expository scenes, we are introduced to one of the short story’s central conflicts: science vs nature. "The Birth-Mark" fundamentally centers on Aylmer’s refusal to accept Georgiana as Nature made her. As their very name suggests, birthmarks are organic happenings formed in the womb; the story’s narrator even notes that the birthmark designates Georgiana’s "birth-hour" (153). In his declaration of his intent to remove her birthmark, Aylmer thus denotes his reliance on scientific knowledge to erase Nature’s imperfections.

Theme of Submission:

As the only woman in “The Birth-Mark,” Georgiana seems to conform to prescribed social norms of the late 18th and early 19th century, which idealize female passivity and submissive, obedient wives. Throughout the story, she unquestionably surrenders to Aylmer’s wishes, and she even urges him to remove her birthmark because she cannot stand his unhappiness or resentment. Georgiana understands the potential risks of the experiment, but she claims she would rather die than continue to fail to satisfy her husband. This extreme submission shows the inevitable impacts of traditional gender politics, which identify men as dominant and women as powerless and subordinate.

What does the speech reveal about the operations (economically, politically,
socially, or psychologically) of men over women?