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.