Physicality In Literary Signification

“Are deformities and scars therefore always significant? Perhaps not. Perhaps sometimes a scar is simply a scar, a short leg or a hunchback merely that. But more often than not physical markings by their very nature call attention to themselves and signify some psychological or thematic point the writer wants to make. After all it's easier to introduce characters without imperfections.” -  Chapter Twenty-One: “Marked for Greatness” page 200

What is easier for an author? Of course this varies from person to person, but I would think the creation of perfect characters would be more difficult, than that of imperfect characters. Since perfection has never been reached, how can one write of it? More pertinent would be the degree to which they are damaged, and at what point in the novel the writer inflicts such damage. Were they scarred by birth, or later in life? If later in life when, and at what point in the novel? Is it merely a scar, freckles, a birthmark? Or loss of limb, severe burns, or boils? Self-inflicted? Each state of being in context can enlighten the reader further in matters such as symbolism, theme, plot development, and so on. Take Tuesday Lobsang Rampa's The Third Eye, for example. A young Tibetan boy, has every possibility laid out to him, he was fortunate to be born into a wealthy family, and career opportunities were seemingly endless. As he chooses to become a monk, much to the vexation of his family, the boy is thrust into adversity. The routine of pain and silence defines his life as he progresses with his studies. One day he makes the mindless error of tripping and falling onto a portion of the heated furnace, during his cooking duties. His overwhelming dedication and suffering further develops his spirituality, and promotes in terms of his responsibilities as a monk. Ultimately that one scar catalyzes the entirety of his spiritual journey, as the event behind the scar comes to symbolize the first of the Four Noble Truths. As readers we must also take into account physical appearance in general, and even the evolution of physical deformity or beauty. In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, Roger Chillingworth's skin complexion and overall appearance gradually changes to mirror his sinister actions and intentions, while that of Arthur Dimmesdale is increasingly seen as a martyr and a saint by his congregation, due to his physical and emotional ailments. An author could quite easily make a seemingly perfect character, but only to subvert our initial reactions, or offer commentary on popular clichés. In that sense every reader should read a book by its cover, at least initially, in order to more fully comprehend the basic elements that comprise a text.