Rappaccini's Daughter Response #3:Final Reflections

    Beatrice needed to die.  To die in this story means more than a bittersweet ending; Beatrice's death gave Rappiccini's Daughter purpose.  It wasn't until the end of the story that I made sense of the title.  The whole story is about Beatrice, not Giovanni.  When she dies, Beatrice makes her most intelligent remarks of the story.  She grows in her last few moments.  No longer is she a ditzy, weak girl glowing with beauty, but she becomes strong standing up for herself against Giovanni.  Honestly, I think in those last few moments Beatrice was stronger and had more control over her life than she ever could have had with her poison.  By sacrificing her life so she could no longer hurt others, Beatrice was selfless, and in my eyes, she redeemed her dignity.  I can't say the same for the other characters of Rappiccini's Daughter.