Romanticism was an artistic and intellectual movement which emphasises inspiration and individualism. Among the characteristic attitudes of Romanticism are the following: a deepened appreciation of the beauties of nature; a general exaltation of emotion over reason and of the senses over intellect; a new view of the artist as a supremely individual creator. The movement emphasizes intense emotion as an authentic source of aesthetic experience, placing new emphasis on emotions. An emphasis on feeling, an emphasis on truth, and an emphasis on nature compose Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Rappaccini’s Daughter” Romantic literature.
An emphasis on feeling reveals Hawthorne’s Romantic demeanor. During the Rationalist period, many people focus on intellect…show more content… Romantics often are concerned for hidden truth. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story, “Rappaccini's Daughter”, Beatrice seeks for the reason why Rappaccini isolated her in a garden with poisonous plants. Rappaccini cares more about his scientific studies instead of his daughter, which makes Beatrice unaware of what she is missing. In other words, Rappaccini is using his own daughter for his scientific studies advancement. Beatrice begins to realize that there are other things in life, such as love and confronts her father: “Wherefore didst thou inflict this miserable doom upon thy child”(Hawthorne 20). Additionally, Romantics seek to rise above dull realities to a realm of higher truth. Beatrice’s isolation does not affect her “until heaven sent thee, dearest Giovanni, Oh! How lonely was thy poor Beatrice!”(Hawthorne 6). Isolation caused Beatrice’s psychological behavior to become different from others. She begins to notice that there is more to life than the garden and plants. In other words, most young adults leave their parents and never come back. Beatrice never seems to notice until Giovanni came into her life. Lastly, Romantics see a revelation of truth in Nature. Brenzo states “the poison in the natures of Giovanni, Baglioni, and Rappaccini represent their own fears, obsessions, ambitions, and unhealthy desires”(160). Baglioni tries to warn Giovanni many times about the potential danger of being involved with
