Hawthorne’s short story Rappaccini’s Daughter takes place in Padua, Italy. The main characters are Rappaccini who is a doctor, a young man Giovanni who has come to Italy to continue his education at the University of Padua, Baglioni who is a professor of medicine and last but not least, Beatrice who is Rappaccini’s daughter. Rappaccini is a doctor who finds great pleasure in running science experiments on his patients. Rappaccini is very protective of Beatrice to the extent that he isolates her in his mansion. Although Rappaccini is overprotective, Beatrice exhibits love and respect for her father. Beatrice is beautiful and intelligent. Rappaccini portrays himself to be a protective, loving father, but as as the story unfolds Rappaccinis true …show more content…
Giovanni looks out of his window and observes Beatrice from as she collects the flowers in the garden. Giovanni is a charming young man who happens to be very good looking as well. After observing Beatrice from his window, Giovanni pays Professor Baglioni a visit. In the course of Giovanni and Baglioni’s conversation, Giovanni openly expresses his interest in Beatrice. Baglioni’s response to Giovanni demonstrates jealousy toward Giovanni. “”Perchance her father destines her for mine!” (480). Baglioni’s jealous interferes with Rappaccini’s experiment. Baglioni is afraid that Rappaccini is training Beatrice to be a scientific rival. While Beatrice and Giovanni were talking in the garden, she states that she is oblivious to her father’s science. Meanwhile, Giovanni and Beatrice walk in the garden and Giovanni “found himself inhaling the fragrance of the flowers” (491). Giovanni asks Beatrice where the plant comes from. Beatrice responds “My father created it” (491). Giovanni considers what Beatrice says. Beatrice follows by saying “He is a man fearfully acquainted with the secrets of Nature” (491). Giovanni discovers that Beatrice carries poisons in her body which she is immune to. Baglioni proceeds to formulate and antidote for Beatrice to take. Baglioni tells Giovanni that the antidote will cure Beatrice from any evil and convinces him to take it to