Rappaccini's Daughter

Rappaccini’s Daughter was one of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s most popular works, written in 1844. Characterization is the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character, without good execution, the author would not present the characters in an intriguing manor. In Rappaccini’s Daughter, there is a significant amount of characterization to qualify for well-rounded characters by author, Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Rappaccini’s Daughter does not consist of many characters but each one of them contain interesting characterization. Giovanni Guascounti is a young man from Napels who moved in order to attend school in Padua. Giovanni fell in love with Beatrice and became the subject in one of Dr. Rappaccini’s experiments. In the story it is exclaimed that Giovanni’s window is lofty and overviews the garden which could suggest his perspective on the light and dark in Beatrice. Giovanni is the young protagonist, therefore he found Beatrice, at once beautiful, which could state his weakness to women, not excluded to her. When Giovanni first understood that Beatrice was dangerous he dismisses his thoughts of any truth to the possibility. Eventually, he comes to terms with facts but becomes concerned for himself. Giovanni calls Beatrice a “poisonous thing”, and made him feel “as hateful, as ugly, as loathsome and deadly a creature as her”. However, at the end of the story Giovanni’s selfishness diminishes and flips to being completely in love with Beatrice. As a result, he give her an antidote in hopes it would reverse the poison in her and allow a live a life full of love with him. As known, this hope did not become reality. Youth in love should have been the way Giovanni and Beatrice played out but it was merely curiosity, lust, and...

... middle of paper ...

...s trying to help a friend or whether his plan to get his in Beatrice mess was sought out. If the mess was his goal then Baglioni was an ineffectual Christ. The story suggests how evil is present everywhere and, like poison, society is unaware of how it is bringing man towards a slow death.

Hawthorne ends with reference to the writings of the fictional writer "Monsieur Aubépine", named after the French Hawthorn plant. He both praises and criticizes the author's style and intent. This introduction aims to establish a tone of uncertainty and confusion, throwing off expectations; establishing the theme of perception in reality and fantasy. Rappaccini Daughter was easily the short story with the most twisted plot and all the characters all have a sinister side to show. Nevertheless, it was well written and enjoyable for everyone who enjoys confusion and sinister plots.