Rappaccini's Daughter: Poisonous Beatrice

Rappaccini’s Daughter Essay Professor Baglioni gave Giovanni the anti-poison for Beatrice, being a scientist he must know the effect that it would have on a person that is pure poison. Professor Baglioni is guilty of murder, due to the fact that as a scientist he must know that an anti-poison neutralizes the effect of the poison, and Beatrice having been raised along with the poisonous plant became a poisonous being as well. Professor Baglioni had motive, which is the main essence of a crime. It is obvious that Professor Baglioni has in intense dislike for Doctor Rappaccini, because of the way his tone changes when conversing with Giovanni, and he also disagrees with Rappaccinis’ technique of studying science- that is, placing science before human life. Professor Baglioni said so himself, “He would sacrifice human life, his own among the rest…” when Guasconit asked the Professor if “…there are many men capable of so spiritual love of science?” the Professor responded with “God forbid,” in a manner that could only be translated to his dislike of the Rappaccini’s methods. Baglioni may come across as somewhat jealous of Rappaccini’s work; he said “… he should receive little credit for such instances of success—they being probably the work of chance—but should be held strictly accountable for his failures, which may justly be considered his own work.” Also in the narration it was said “… had he known that there was a professional warfare of long continuance between him and Doctor Rappaccini…” that leads the reader to see that there is some sort of tension between the Doctor and the Professor which could fuel the dislike. It is obvious that the Professor was aware of Beatrice being a poisonous being; when the Professor gave Giovanni a visit in his dwelling, he told Giovanni of a story he had read of a woman who was nourished from a poisonous plant since she was born, and that the perfume of her breath was poisonous and that her love would also be poison..