In 's
"Rappuccini's Daughter," there is one
shrub that is set in a marble vase in the middle
of the pool of the fountain
which bears "a profusion of purple blossoms," that are
luxuriant, lustrous
and rich like gems. The entire plant seems so magnificent that it brightens
the entire garden without the aid of any other light. This splendid plant Beatrice
calls her
"sister" as she opens her arms as though to embrace it. As
Giovanni watches Beatrice
and the afternoon wanes, it seems as though there
is "an oppressive exhalation"
proceeding from the plants and coming up to his
window.
The next day,
Giovanni looks out at the garden and
sees the "gorgeous shrub that hung its gem-like
flowers over the fountain."
Then, Beatrice appears, arraigned much like the plant in
a dress of similar
hues. Approaching this resplendent shrub, Beatrice opens her arms and
gathers the branches into an intimate embrace, so intimate that her face is hidden in
the
plant's bosom. When she cuts a flower to wear that has the dazzling
effect of a gem, a drop of
liquid falls onto an unsuspecting
lizard, and it writhes and then dies.
Later, as Giovanni
enters the garden, Beatrice appears and speaks with him. As they
converse,
they move close to the deadly plant. "For the fist time in my life...I had
forgotten thee," Beatrice says to the plant. Now in love with a man, Beatrice thinks
not
of the gorgeous plant. Seeing them, Dr. Rappaccini enters the garden and
tells Beatrice that
Giovanni now can join hands with her. In fact, he can
wear the magnificent purple leaves as
they will no longer harm
him.
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