Monday, January 16, 2012

What does the story "Rappaccini's Daughter" state about people who do not find balance between their emotional and intellectual lives?

In health classes, students are taught about the health triangle. It is a triangle that visually shows that a person's total health and wellness is affected by the balance that exists between physical health, mental/emotional health, and social health. All areas should be in equal amounts. Hawthorne's story sends the same message, but it very much focuses on the mental and emotional health side of the triangle. Readers are shown three scientific men whose passion for science, knowledge, and understanding is paramount to their daily lives. For Rappaccini, his pursuits created his daughter. He cared more about being able to do what he did than thinking about if he should have done it. Baglioni tells Giovanni as much when he says that Rappiccini “cares infinitely more for science than for mankind.” Baglioni also states that Rappaccini "would sacrifice human life” to gain a small amount of scientific knowledge. This is the emotional and intellectual balancing point in this story. Baglioni correctly points out that Rappaccini is far too skewed one way, and the story presents him as a villain in order to help show readers that intellectual pursuits that are not balanced by morality and empathy are unhealthy and harmful. Readers see this quite tragically at the end of the story when Rappaccinni's daughter states that she would rather have been loved than feared because of what her father did to her.
https://www.livestrong.com/article/42697-health-triangle/

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