Who is the hero of the story Rappaccini's Daughter?

There
is not a definitively correct answer to this question.The answer is subjective and best left to
an individual reader to choose the heroic character and support it.In my personal opinion, this
particular story does not have a hero.My view of a hero could be narrow, but no character
emerges as having purged an evil from the world.

If you have
to pick a hero, then picking Beatrice might be an okay option.She is the one
character that is least self seeking.A typical heroic trait is that they give of themselves
selflessly.Beatrice doesn't ask for anything other than for Giovanni to judge her based on her
words and not solely on what he sees.She is content with who she is and what she can do.She
doesn't have any hidden agenda.She is the most "pure" character of the group, and that
could be a basis to call her heroic.

Another hero option is Giovanni.I don't
particularly like him as a hero, but he does try to cure Beatrice.He sees what her father has
done to her, and he tries to fix that.It is a seemingly noble action, but he is trying to fix
Beatrice for his own personal romantic inclinations.Giovanni has good intentions, and you could
support a damsel in distress motif with his actions; however, I personally think that is too
much of a stretch.