Rappaccini’s Daughter Themes

Set during the Age of Enlightenment—a movement that glorified science and reason—“Rappaccini’s Daughter” is the story of three scientists: the young medical student Giovanni, his family friend and fellow doctor Baglioni, and Baglioni’s arch-rival, the “famous doctor” Rappaccini. Given that all three characters are doctors, one might think that their life’s work would be to use scientific processes to heal others. However, as each of these men tries to impact and understand…

In “Rappaccini’s Daughter,” Hawthorne presents the full spectrum of human morality: Rappaccini seems pure evil, Beatrice seems pure good, and Giovanni and Baglioni have conflicted intentions. As Giovanni, Baglioni, and Rappaccini all try to manipulate Beatrice to serve their own ends, it becomes clear that Beatrice’s naïve goodness cannot prevail in a world whose morality is inferior to hers. She dies as a result of the other characters’ immorality, showing that morality as pure as…

Hawthorne twice compares Rappaccini’s garden to Eden, calling to mind the Biblical story of man’s fall from grace in the Garden of Eden. In that story, Adam and Eve live in a utopian garden and God’s only rule for them is not to eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Unfortunately, they eat the fruit, and God makes them mortal and banishes them from Eden. Hawthorne’s story parallels this Bible…

“Rappaccini’s Daughter” depicts numerous differences between how men and women interact with the world around them. All the men (Giovanni, Baglioni, and Rappaccini) have professions, while the women (Beatrice and Lisabetta) manage their households. Men have formal educations, while women have knowledge that they have learned from going about their daily lives. Male characters get to move throughout the city, while the two female characters are only spotted at…