It is an indisputable fact that every person, regardless of gender, age, lifestyle or intelligence, strives to achieve a level of perfection in others as well as in herself. As we move into adulthood, we begin to set goals and look for ways to be perfectly happy in our lives. When we look at our adult life, it is based on our childhood life. The role of adults in our young lives, as well as what we experience with or without, plays a role in what we perceive as perfection. Just like Eveline, the main character in James Joyce's 1914 short story "Eveline." Based on her personal experiences with her father and mother, in addition to what she witnessed during her parents' interaction , Eveline helped Eveline choose her path to what could be happiness and perfection in her adult life. When we interpret the level of perfection in others, we also base these perceptions on our own personal experiences as well as our own imperfections. The search for personal perfection begins when we decide to know, or think we know, what perfection could or should be. . Once a person has decided what will allow them to take a step toward perfection, they will begin and/or continue to set goals to have a career that is worth a perfectionist's time; like a doctor or a lawyer. Those who believe that they and their lives have achieved perfection will sometimes feel the need to extend that perfection to include others around them, normally a spouse or child. Changing the perfection of others usually begins with the external image. Just like Nathaniel Hawthorne's character Aylmer in the 1843 short story "The Birthmark." Aylmer meets a wonderful woman…and persuades a beautiful woman to become his wife (McMahan 225). Aylmer soon discovered... middle of paper ...... days are just days of trials and tribulations that continually push us to strive for perfection. As mentioned earlier, there are good reasons – safety, love and health – to make the change towards a more perfect and positive life. But with every negative there is a positive. Striving for perfection blindly can only cause you fear, unhappiness, and regret. The search for perfection in oneself and in others should not be taken lightly. The person you envision for yourself and others may not be the person you end up being with or with. Works Cited Hawthorne, Nathaniel. “The birthmark.” Literature and the writing process. Ed. Elizabeth McMahan et al. Boston: Longman, 2011. 4-7.PrintJoyce, James. “Eveline.” Literature and the writing process. Ed. Elizabeth McMahan et al. Boston: Longman, 2011. 225-235. Print