Rappaccini's Daughter

7 Pages 1836 Words

embodied by the bush, and we are reminded of the
purity nourished within the poison and poisoning body of Beatrice.
In “Rappaccini’s Daughter” there are three men focused on Beatrice, and
three different points of view. Each point of view reflects each man, and each man
projects his own inner corruption onto Beatrice.
Giovanni, a shallow and vain young man, finds corruption where none exists
in the beautiful but deadly Beatrice, but fails to see her true danger until it is too
late. He does not let her fine and noble character convince him of her innate
goodness and depth of soul. His shallowness reflects itself in his judgment of her
character. She is a lonely woman grateful for the affection and attention received
from Giovanni. When his attentions turn to pursuit, she is frightened because she
knows that her touch would be death to him. She withholds returning his
affections, but does not give explanations, which leaves him with only his
imagination. By turns Giovanni’s perceptions tell him that Beatrice is evil and
corrupt, then good and pure.
“”Beatrice came back to his passionate musings, invested with all the
witchery that had been gathering around it ever since his first
glimpse of her, and now likewise imbued with a tender warmth of
girlish womanhood. She was human; her nature was endowed with
all gentle and feminine qualities ; she was worthiest to be worshipped;
she was capable, surely, on ...