Allegories, symbolism, fantasy, the theme of faith, the theme of science, the presence of humanity, and conceivably the unforgivable sin. Given all of these characteristics, a reader may very well perceive this story not only Nathaniel Hawthorne's greatest work, but his most problematic as well. The meaning of this classic tale has been disputed among the greatest of critics. The story has been interpreted as pro-Transcendental and anti-Transcendental (Stallman 1). Beatrice has been viewed as an angel and a lethal siren. Giovanni has been deemed a Puritan and an artistic figure. Baglioni has been seen as a weak Christ figure, and Rappaccini has been characterized as both God and Satan. To illuminate one of Hawthorne's short stories, an investigation of "Rappaccini's Daughter" will pin down the implications of well-known mythology and how Hawthorne uses such tales to illustrate women, not as the only reason for the fall of grace in the eyes of the God's, but as pure al!

lies in humankind's ethereal undoing.

First of all, the protagonist is Signor Giovanni Guasconti, a young man who has come to Padua, Italy to study at the university there. He was nonetheless transported from his

In describing the mystery of Rappaccini's daughter to Giovanni, Baglioni states "you have heard of his daughter, whom all the young men in Pauda are wild about, though not half a dozen have ever had the good hap to see her face" (Hawthorne 625). Here, Beatrice is compared to Medusa, the Gorgon. When any person would lay his or her eyes on Medusa, she would turn them to stone. In the same way, Beatrice can be compared to the Greek goddess, Circe. Circe was a sorceress who was renowned for her ability to turn men into beast with a magic wand she possessed. Circe was also known for spiritual purification. Although Beatrice was a lethal weapon, she was also a very

Giovanni himself soon discovers that Beatrice is not a fiend, but that she is instead a human and an important part of mankind. Beatrice, who once was seen as deadly to Giovanni, soon rescues him from a wretched death. However, this innocent gesture soon turns Giovanni into a poisonous being, just like Beatrice. "On the back of that hand there was now a purple tint like that of four small fingers" (Hawthorne 633). Soon, uncanny events being to take place in Giovanni's life. He has become a Medusa-like person himself, and this is confirmed even more when he states " . . .he could have desired nothing so mach as to whither her at a glance" (Hawthorne 637).

[W]as thrilled with his new gift and turned everything he could to gold, including his beloved roses. His attitude changed however when

takes "'great pains to show that women are innocent, or at least no more culpable than men'" (qtd. in McN

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1064
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)