Lasciate ogni speranza, voi ch entrate.

Transcription

1 Lasciate ogni speranza, voi ch entrate.

2 Rappaccini s Daughter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

3 GIOVANNI GUASCONTI LISABETTA Characters Learn to pronounce like a king. BEATRICE RAPPACCINI PIETRO BAGLIONI GIACOMO RAPPACCINI

4 Nathaniel Hawthorne The Great American Author.

5 Nathaniel Hawthorne : Salem, MA Dark Romantic Similar to Gothic--focused on human fallibility and sin and self-destruction Cautionary Tales Edgar Allan Poe, Herman Melville Opposed Transcendentalism (like those hippies Wordsworth and Thoreau) He seriously hated Transcendentalists Known for: The Scarlet Letter, The House of Seven Gables, My Kinsmen, Major Molineaux Poe: Hawthorne has...indisputable genius LOVES ALLEGORY

6 Nathaniel Hathorne or Nathaniel Hawthorne? Born Hathorne, but around the age of 21 he changed it to Hawthorne. Great-Great Grandfather was John Hathorne, who was a leading magistrate and judge for the Salem Witch Trials. One of the people who was responsible for inciting the witch trials. He was the only judge to show no remorse and refused to repent for his actions. Starred in Miller s The Crucible Wrote many stories surrounding Salem and critique of Puritanism (The Scarlet Letter) and witch trials ( The Minister s Black Veil ).

7 Influences Art imitates art. Rappaccini s Daughter mimics many stories of similar ilk that date back centuries and continues a long tradition of adapting stories.

8 Indian Influence Baglioni talking to Giovanni: "I have been reading an old classic author lately," said he, "and met with a story that strangely interested me. Possibly you may remember it. It is of an Indian prince, who sent a beautiful woman as a present to Alexander the Great. She was as lovely as the dawn, and gorgeous as the sunset; but what especially distinguished her was a certain rich perfume in her breath--richer than a garden of Persian roses. Alexander, as was natural to a youthful conqueror, fell in love at first sight with this magnificent stranger. But a certain sage physician, happening to be present, discovered a terrible secret in regard to her."

9 Allusion From Robert Burton s The Anatomy of Melancholy (1621) Masked as a medical text, but covers a range of stories medical, satirical, serious, etc. FUN FACT: Considered a sui generis More Burton based this story from the Latin Gesta Romanorum (13th-14th century) which came from the Sanskrit play by Vishakhadatta Mudrarakshasa (4th century?) Sanskrit = lingua franca in India

10 Significant Allusions The depths of this work will astound you. More than meets the eye.

11 Brief, but important, allusions "But," resumed the Professor, "be of good cheer, son of my friend! It is not yet too late for the rescue. Possibly, we may even succeed in bringing back this miserable child within the limits of ordinary nature, from which her father's madness has estranged her. Behold this little silver vase! It was wrought by the hands of the renowned Benvenuto Cellini, and is well worthy to be a love-gift to the fairest dame in Italy. But its contents are invaluable. One little sip of this antidote would have rendered the most virulent poisons of the Borgias innocuous. Doubt not that it will be as efficacious against those of Rappaccini. Bestow the vase, and the precious liquid within it, on your Beatrice, and hopefully await the result."

12 Benvenuto Cellini Italian sculptor and goldsmith, and other things not so relevant First to produce life-size works in bronze Slept with a lot of his models, had some illegitimate children Charged with sodomy 4 times (1 woman, 3 men) Suffered from syphilis Had it since the age of 29 Refused treatment because they used mercury and he didn t want to die Was poisoned (art was a big deal) with mercuric chloride, but didn t die Syphilis was cured! This is relevant...

13 Borgias Prominent Italian Renaissance family Two popes: Alfons de Borja (15th century) and Rodrigo Lanzol Borgia (15th-16th century) They were considered to be very corrupt: theft, murder, bribery, adultery, etc. Spent money lavishly Loved poisoning people Cesare Borgia, son of Rodrigo Suspected of murdering his brother, Giovanni Slept with a french prostitute at 22 in France Got syphilis

14 Analysis of Allusions Medicine Allegory for the hindrance of religion and sorcery in medicine All of the characters really suffered from syphilis! Borgia murders Giovanni Poison Mortal corruption and foreshadowing Alluding to human corruption and foreshadowing Beatrice s death

15 More little ones... "Aha!" cried the Professor with a laugh. "So now our friend Giovanni's secret is out. You have heard of this daughter, whom all the young men in Padua are wild about, though not half a dozen have ever had the good hap to see her face. I know little of the Signora Beatrice, save that Rappaccini is said to have instructed her deeply in his science, and that, young and beautiful as fame reports her, she is already qualified to fill a professor's chair. Perchance her father destines her for mine! Other absurd rumors there be, not worth talking about, or listening to. So now, Signor Giovanni, drink off your glass of Lacryma."

16 Lacryma Dry red wine, also called Lacryma Christi Literally: Tears of Christ Satan was cast out of Heaven, wreaked havoc on Mount Vesuvius, Christ was sad so he cried, his tears created rich vines, rich vines gave us booze Relevance Rappaccini created something beautiful (Beatrice) but rooted in Evil. Baglioni discusses Giovanni s discovery as they drink this wine.

17 One more... Every portion of the soil was peopled with plants and herbs, which, if less beautiful, still bore tokens of assiduous care; as if all had their individual virtues, known to the scientific mind that fostered them. Some were placed in urns, rich with old carving, and others in common garden-pots; some crept serpent-like along the ground, or climbed on high, using whatever means of ascent was offered them. One plant had wreathed itself round a statue of Vertumnus, which was thus quite veiled and shrouded in a drapery of hanging foliage, so happily arranged that it might have served a sculptor for a study.

18 Vertumnus Roman god of seasons, change and plant growth Can change into any form Disguises himself as a woman to gain entry to Pomona s garden, warns her of rejecting suitors, and she is seduced by him. Relevance: Beatrice is used as a ploy to seduce Giovanni.

19 Now, a BIG allusion WHO IS BEATRICE?

20 Beatrice From the Latin word Beatrix she who makes people happy Star of Dante This is important.

21 Dante Alighieri Italian Poet Met a woman, Beatrice Portinari, when she was 8 and held on to a love for her his whole life She was married at 21 and died at 24. After her death, Dante wrote extensively (mostly poetry) about her Lines blurred between his real love for her and his poetic love for her Referred to her as his savior and thought she was pure good Thought she made him a better person Starred in Dante s two greatest works: La Vita Nuova and the Divine Comedy

22 Dante s Divine Comedy Epic poem written from He died one year later. Epic. Fun fact: Helped develop standardized Italian Very brief overview Who is Beatrice? Describes Dante s travels through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise. In Italiano: Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso Virgil, a pagan, leads but cannot continue into Paradiso. Beatrice leads him through the nine celestial spheres of Heaven.

23 Dante, Giovanni and Beatrice: A Love Triangle La gloriosa donna della mia mente What connection does this have to Giovanni and Beatrice?

24 Genesis Allegory at its finest. God is everywhere.

25 Man destroys what he cannot control. (Science/Nature) Themes Man is innately prone to sin. (Religion) The worst sin is to betray the human heart. (Love)