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How Does Nathaniel Hawthorne's Use Of Allusions

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Nathaniel Hawthorne displays his use of allusions and microcosm throughout his writings through his avid use of mythological, literature, m and biblical references. He relates many of his stories to Adam and Eve and the fall of mankind with the introduction of sin. Many characters, in both Rappaccini’s Daughter and The Birthmark, will relate to a biblical character or a mythological character with how they relate to something or how they act. Hawthorne relates his writings to things that are well know and makes it much easier for the reader to understand or relate to. Some of these examples are displayed in Rappaccini’s Daughter with how the garden and the scientist relate to biblical figures. One of the types of allusion that Hawthorne …show more content…

He compares the three in Rappaccini’s Daughter with the setting and the roles the characters portray. Not only is the Garden of Eden an allusion to the Bible, it is an example of microcosm because of who all is related in it. The scientists are relatable to God and the Devil because Rappaccini and Baglioni are at conflict with one another as they try to be the better scientist. Baglioni relates to the devil in how he convinced Giovanni that the antidote would be the answer to his problems; similar to how the serpent had persuaded Eve to eat the apple. Baglioni even approaches Giovanni in the same way the devil did so to Eve by being friendly and giving them a sense of comfort, Baglioni greets Giovanni by saying “Signor Giovanni!... Have you forgotten me?” (Rappaccini's Daughter 8). He greets Giovanni as a friend so that he will open up to Baglioni even more and feel comfortable around him. Rappaccini, on the other end of the spectrum, represents God in how he has created an oasis from human corruption and sin, yet it is ruined by his adversary. Rappaccini reacts to his daughter drinking the antidote the same way God responds to Adam and Eve because he states how he has provided for her yet she doesn't seem to be satisfied with that. He is disappointed that she didn't see his attempts to keep her happy and provide for her when he says“thou art no longer lonely in the world”; Beatrice

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