Dr. Heidegger's Experiment, By Nathaniel Hawthorne

Nathaniel Hawthorne spends most of the first paragraph of his short story, Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment, describing the main characters. This sets the stage for the plot. Dr. Heidegger reunites four people, Mr. Medbourne, Colonel Killigrew, Mr. Gascoigne, and Widow Wycherly, who once knew each other, but since then, they have all experienced great misfortune. Mr. Medbourne was a “prosperous merchant,” but became “little better than a mendicant” after frantic speculation. Meanwhile, Colonel Killigrew now experienced a “brood of pains” and “other torments of the soul and body” because he spent his youth “in pursuit of sinful pleasures.” Mr. Gascoigne lived as a ruined politician and wasn’t even infamous, he was just forgotten. Finally, Widow Wycherly
Heidegger’s guests all knew each other and had a previous conflict is what makes his experiment so interesting. They also all had experienced unfortunate circumstances that gives them a reason for being there. Dr. Heidegger wants to give them another chance at youth so they can avoid the mistakes of the past. However, they ruin their opportunity for this when past conflicts revive and once again, the three men are fighting over Widow Wycherly. During this quarrel, they knock over the liquid taken from the Fountain of Youth and the effects of what they did have to drink didn’t last long. History repeats itself and they all ruin their second chance with their childish behavior. Though, it was partially not their fault because the liquid from the Fountain of Youth had intoxicating effects. Yet, they had not learned or been aware of what could happen while they were all fooling around. The whole purpose of this story is that it’s a metaphor for the message Hawthorne wants to share. People should spend their youth wisely, be wise with the opportunities they have, and learn from your experiences. This is shown through Dr. Heidegger’s four guests and the disadvantaged they experienced during their youth. The message is also shown through the fact that the vase filled with the water from the Fountain of Youth fell over during the men’s quarrel. They were being irresponsible and foolish, which could indicate to the readers that they didn’t grow with their