Point of View

The author tells the story from the third person, but mostly from the point of view of the main character Giovanni. Every scene includes him and he is the character the reader gets to understand on an intimate level.

Yet, by the end of the story, the reader can see author's focus on him has worked to lead the reader astray. The central story is not about Giovanni's innocence and him finding himself, as it is easy to believe, but the rivalry between the two professors: Baglioni and Rappaccini.

Slowly through the story, they have manipulated Giovanni in attempt to get what they want. The reader can see that by the way Giovanni thinks - his mind dancing away on romantic notions - that they did not have hard task. In this respect, Baglioni is the winner as the reader can tell not only by the...