Love in Rappaccini
...id not know this however. It was without this knowledge that he pursued her and they became well acquainted to each other. It would not be until later that Giovanni would find out this truth that few knew about. Giovanni was overwhelmed with this relationship that he had acquired with Beatrice. Their lives had almost come to the point of living and "breathing" each other. This is actually one of the first clues to Beatrice's lifelong handicap. It is her breath Giovanni notices that has such a sweet aroma to it, just as sweet as that of the aroma released from one of her father's plants. Giovanni had also noticed, the first day he peered into the garden, that Beatrice had touched and sniffed of all the plants which her father was so careful not to get close to or touch. The only thing I saw as an explanation to Giovanni reasoning for not being bothered by these hints was the fact he was so overwhelmed with affection for Beatrice. I got the sense that Giovanni did start to wonder if something was up when Hawthorne let the reader in on the fact that she would not let Giovanni get too close to her. The true giveaway was when Giovanni was about to touch one of the many deadly plants in the garden and Beatrice, for the first time, touched Giovanni to keep him from touching it. It was shortly after this incident that Giovanni found his hand turning purple in the shape of the handprint that Beatrice had laid on him. Throughout all of these occurrences, Giovanni feels as though he is truly in love with Beatrice. He does not get caught up in these small details that would warn most away from a relationship. They enjoyed afternoons together in the garden and she was all he could think about all day long at work. For Beatrice, this was the first outside acquaintance she had been able to make other than that of her father. This being that first relationship, she gave her all where possible. All was going well for young Giovanni until he ran into his father's friend, Professor Baglioni. The Professor knew of the Rappaccini secret and let Giovanni in on its truths. Giovanni became defensive and after realizing the truth, took a potion that was to cure Beatrice of her awful handicap. This brought much happiness to Giovanni because he knew now he could be with her as true soul mates would be and his mysteries of their relationship were finally answered. They would not be together as it turns out. Giovanni first confronted Beatrice about the truth bringing upon a small fight. She wanted the potion when she learned of it and drank it. It was after she took it that her father entered the garden and told Giovanni and Beatrice they could now be together because Giovanni had also been given the handicap Beatrice had had all along. Just after learning this, the potion d...