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Nathaniel Hawthorn, author of “The Minister’s Black Veil” and “Rappaccini’s Daughter,” lived a life of solitude—devoting the majority of his existence to the acquisition of knowledge. Likewise, in these two short stories, a few characters also come about this misfortune, whether by choice or by obligation. Each story proves a unique point about the relationship between knowledge and the human character as well as the concept of isolation; yet, there are also many parallels in the existence thereof. In “Rappaccini’s Daughter” the young, beautiful Beatrice is isolated—literally—as a result of the poison her father has instilled into her. This poison has made it impossible for her to enjoy the company of other people due to the fact that she is doomed to destroy that which she simply breathes upon. Throughout the short story, the reader becomes familiar with this curse; however, the reader also discovers, as does Beatrice, that all humans possess their own form of th