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Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment

Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment. By Nathaniel Hawthorne. Literary term for this story:. Allegory: A work in which each element symbolizes, or represents, something else. (In this story, each of the characters represents something people strive to have in their youth).

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Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment

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  1. Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment By Nathaniel Hawthorne

  2. Literary term for this story: • Allegory: A work in which each element symbolizes, or represents, something else. • (In this story, each of the characters represents something people strive to have in their youth).

  3. Four characters: four symbols • Mr. Medbourne---was a prosperous merchant----lost his money through “frantic speculation”—represents wealth (but lost that wealth through greed) • Colonel Killigrew—was a healthy man—lost his health through “pursuit of sinful pleasures”—womanizing, drinking, etc. (lost health through lust and gluttony)

  4. Characters continued: • Mr. Gascoigne—was a corrupt politician—now, no one remembers him. He is “obscure instead of infamous”—represents fame, (lost through his corrupt decisions) • Widow Wycherly---was a beautiful young woman---lost respect of those around her as a result of “certain scandalous stories”—represents beauty, lost through her bad choices

  5. What do these four characters have in common? • All three men had at one time been involved with the Widow • Most important: • Their “greatest misfortune” is that they are not dead yet! (p. 502) • This makes them perfect candidates for the experiment---they have nothing to lose!

  6. What about Dr. Heidegger? • He had a chance for love in his youth; what happened? • Was it his fault? • How does this relate to Dr. H’s decision not to participate in the experiment?

  7. Setting: Dr. Heidegger’s Study • A place ripe for magical/enchanted events and objects • Skeleton in closet • Portrait of Sylvia Ward • Dusty, old-fashioned, dim, has cobwebs • Huge books on bookcases • (Think about similarities to House of Usher)

  8. Setting continued: • Mirror—what’s magical about it? • Bronze bust of Hippocrates • A book of magic: large black folio volume • Bound in black leather—silver clasps • When dusted, what happens? • Skeleton rattles • Sylvia “steps out” of the picture • Faces appear in mirror • Bronze bust says “forbear”

  9. The Experiment Itself • Rose: whose? What happened? • Reactions of four friends? • Dr. H mentions Ponce de Leon and the Fountain of Youth, but he never says directly that the water is actually from the fountain of youth • Colonel Killigrew asks about the effect on humans

  10. Rules of experiment • Dr. Heidegger mentions their “peculiar advantages”—which are? • What advice does he give them? • How do they respond? Why? • They laugh---how ridiculous is the notion that we will repeat our mistakes

  11. Before the first drink… • No four people needed it more! • References to water as alcohol: • Bubbles like champagne • Effects are temporary • Called “the youth liquor”

  12. After first drink: • Result: • Feel alive again • “healthy suffusion” on their cheeks • Sunshine comes through window at same moment • They want more and demand it right away

  13. After second drink: • Hawthorne asks, “Was it delusion?” • Four guests are now middle-aged • What do they start doing? • Widow: looking at self in mirror • Colonel: flirts with Widow • Mr. G: talking politics non-stop • Mr. M: invents crazy business idea

  14. Between 2nd and 3rd drink • Already, they are back to their old mistakes! • Describe Dr. Heidegger: • Observant, cool • “Venerable” • “Gray dignity of aspect” • Compared to Father Time

  15. After 3rd drink: • Result: “Happy Prime of Youth” • Now, what are they doing? • Mocking old people (physical ailments, glasses, etc) • Widow asks Dr. H to dance with her • Other three gentlemen start to argue over who will dance with her

  16. After 3rd drink, continued • During struggle to see who will dance together, mirror reflects…… • What happens to the vase? • What happens to the rose? • How do the guests react?

  17. End of experiment • What does Dr. Heidegger tell his friends? Would he drink the water? Why or why not? • Did the four friends learn a lesson? How do we know?

  18. Real or imaginary? • Was the water actually from the fountain of youth? • Evidence can support either side • Hawthorne’s stance (theme): • When human beings get a chance to correct a mistake, they usually make a bad choice and repeat it.

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