Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Rappaccini’s Daughter is a book rich in symbolism. One of the most prominent symbols in the novel is nature itself. Rappaccini himself is deeply connected to nature, and he uses it as a tool to control and manipulate people. For example, Rappaccini forces Beatrice to stay in his garden, where she is constantly surrounded by poisonous plants. Rappaccini believes that the poisons in these plants will make Beatrice immune to other poisons. In a way, Rappaccini is using nature as a way to protect Beatrice from the world.
Another major symbol in the novel is water. Water is often used to represent purity and innocence, which are two traits that Beatrice possesses in abundance. For example, when Beatrice is first introduced in the novel, Hawthorne writes that “a soft and gentle light…gleamed through the window of the opposite house, and fell upon her face. It was as if the moon, looking down on her with a favor more tender than usual, had shed its celestial influence upon her” (Hawthorne 9). In this passage, Hawthorne uses water to describe Beatrice’s beauty and innocence.
Another example of water representing purity can be found near the end of the novel. After Beatrice learns that Rappaccini has been using her for his own purposes, she decides to drink a poison that will kill her. However, before she can drink it, she is rescued by Giovanni. As she is being carried away from Rappaccini’s garden, Hawthorne writes that “the moisture of her tears fell upon his cheek like dew-drops from a flower” (Hawthorne 156). In this passage, water represents the purity of Beatrice’s tears.
Symbolism is an important part of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Rappaccini’s Daughter. Nature and water are two of the most important symbols in the novel. Nature represents Rappaccini’s power and control, while water represents Beatrice’s purity and innocence.
Hawthorne’s work is one-of-a-kind. His writings are filled with subtle creativity, analysis, and beautiful wording. His little tales are recognized for their uniqueness and ability to stimulate the reader’s thoughts. Although Hawthorne favored allegory in many of his works, he preferred to rely more on symbolism (13). Hawthorne’s use of symbols adds complexity to his stories and helps them shed light on the characters’ personalities.
The first is Rappaccini’s garden, which is a beautiful and lush place. The second setting is the town, which is a dark and dismal place. Rappaccini himself can be seen as a symbol. He is both a scientist and a gardener, and he has created a perfect garden. However, this perfection comes at a price, for Rappaccini has used his knowledge to create poisonous plants.
His daughter Beatrice can also be seen as a symbol. She is the perfect example of innocence, beauty, and purity. She has been sheltered from the world and knows nothing of its dangers. Dr. Baglioni can be seen as a symbol of the Devil. He is dark and sinister, and he represents the temptation that Beatrice must overcome.
Giovanni can be seen as a symbol of Adam. He is attracted to Beatrice, and he represents the temptation that Rappaccini has put in her way. The use of symbols allows Nathaniel Hawthorne to create a modern day version of the biblical story of Adam and Eve. It also allows him to explore the themes of innocence and temptation, and to comment on the dangers of knowledge.
The Garden of Eden is represented by Rappaccini’s garden. The figures represent Adam and Eve, as well as God and Satan. Dr. Baglioni may be compared to the Devil because to his role in tempting Giovanni with knowledge of the outside world and information about Beatrice.
One of the most important symbols in the story is water. It is used to cleanse and heal, but it can also be used to drown or poison. The water in Rappaccini’s garden is poisonous because Rappaccini has tampered with its natural state. He has added deadly plants and poisons to it. The fountain at the center of the garden is a symbol of life and Rappaccini has tried to claim it for death.
Another important symbol is the flower. It is a symbol of Beatrice’s purity and her innocence. Hawthorne uses the flower to show how Rappaccini has poisoned his daughter with his own sin. The flower also represents Beatrice’s beauty and her vulnerability.
Rappaccini’s Daughter is full of symbols that represent the themes of the story. Hawthorne uses these symbols to explore the dangers of playing God, the power of nature, and the danger of obsession.
The first and most essential setting is a beautiful garden near to Giovanni Guasconti’s chambers in Padua, Italy. This garden is employed as a symbol for the Garden of Eden in this tale because it is surrounded by an ancient wall. Hawthorne describes the garden in such a way that the reader may almost picture a lushly colored landscape filled with flowering plants and shrubs. The garden contains many kinds of plants and herbs. Some vines have grown wild until they were wrapped around statues, while others are growing inside ornamental urns (2217).
The plants in Rappaccini’s garden are fascinating to Giovanni and he spends a great deal of time studying them. Dr. Rappaccini, the scientist who created the garden, is very protective of the plants and will not let anyone near them. He has even gone so far as to poison some of the plants so that they are deadly to humans (2217-2218).
One day, Giovanni sees a beautiful young girl in the garden. He does not know who she is, but he is immediately drawn to her. She is wearing a long white dress and she has a wreath of flowers in her hair. Giovanni later finds out that her name is Beatrice and she is Rappaccini’s daughter (2218).
Giovanni begins to visit the garden every day so that he can see Beatrice. He starts to feel as if he knows her, even though they have never spoken. One day, when Giovanni is in the garden, he sees Rappaccini coming towards him. Rappaccini tells Giovanni that he is not allowed to talk to his daughter and that he should stay away from her (2219).
Giovanni does not listen to Rappaccini and he continues to visit the garden. He even starts to bring Beatrice flowers. One day, when they are talking, Beatrice asks Giovanni if he would like to smell one of her father’s special flowers. Giovanni smells the flower and immediately feels dizzy. He passes out and is taken to Rappaccini’s laboratory (2220).
Rappaccini tells Giovanni that the flower he smelled was one of his special creations. He has been injecting the flower’s essence into Beatrice so that she will be immune to all poisons. Rappaccini believes that this will make her a better person because she will not be corrupted by the world’s evil (2220-2221).
