Final answer:
The fear of a husband not recognizing his wife in literature often arises from physical changes, emotional distances, or insecurities, as depicted in the provided excerpts from various texts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question addresses a recurrent theme of fear and uncertainty within relationships, as depicted in various literary texts. The fear that a husband may no longer recognize his wife can stem from several sources such as the passing of time, changes in physical appearance, emotional distances, or the introduction of an element that causes distrust or insecurity. In the provided excerpts, this fear manifests through physical transformation, like in the case of Georgiana's birthmark in Hawthorne's 'The Birthmark,' or through emotional change, perhaps due to grief or misunderstanding, as suggested in the other narratives. Each snippet presents a case where recognition, physical or emotional, is jeopardized, leading to the concerned worry from the spouse.