“Was This Garden, then, the Eden of the Present World?”

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Representation of Padua in “Rappaccini’s Daughter”

Abstract

This article examines the concepts of historical accuracy and truthfulness of the setting in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Rappaccini’s Daughter” (1844) through an analysis of his representation and depiction of Padua, in particular of its University and Botanical Gardens (Orto Botanico). Though Hawthorne had not yet visited Italy at the time of publication, his description of Padua in the tale is vivid and full of apt references that embody the city. Overall, little critical attention has been devoted to the Padua setting of the short story. However, a study of Hawthorne’s rich and accurate references in the text reveals a somewhat obscure desire to convey his particularly deep knowledge of Italian literature, art, and history. Finally, a comparison between the Padua of “Rappaccini’s Daughter” with subsequent depictions of Italy in Hawthorne’s production, especially the Rome of The Marble Faun: Or, The Romance of Monte Beni (1860), will highlight similarities and differences in the treatment of history and setting in his later works.