Final answer:
Characters like Georgiana and Dr. Rank confront the worst possible outcomes in their quest for freedom from afflictions or personal truth, reflecting a theme of seeking control over destiny.
Step-by-step explanation:
Characters in literature often seek to know the worst possible outcome as a way to prepare for it or to challenge themselves to face their deepest fears. Specifically, these passages indicate that characters like Georgiana in Hawthorne's story want the freedom from their afflictions, even if it means risking their lives. Similarly, others wish to confront or disclose the harsh realities they face, such as illness or personal turmoil, in order to deal with them directly. This determination can stem from a deep dissatisfaction with their current situation or an intense desire to change their lives regardless of the potential danger. The references to Georgiana desiring to remove her birthmark at any cost, Dr. Rank revealing his impending death to Nora, and Nora's own secretive behavior in Ibsen's 'A Doll's House', all underscore the theme that probing for the worst scenario provides the characters with a sense of control over their own destiny, even in dire circumstances.