Dr.+Heidegger's+Experiment-Group+2

Dr. Heidegger's Experiment

** PLOT ** Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment is a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne, published in 1837 in __Twice-Told Tales__. It is the tale of an old scientist, Dr. Heidegger, who invited 3 old men and 1 old woman to his study so that they may test the effect of drinking water from the Fountain of Youth. This is one of the many stories by Hawthorne with the topic of the sinful man and the dark side of human nature. He believed that men can only achieve perfection after their flaws or sins are analyzed and exposed.

** CHARACTER ** The author uses symbolism to create each character. The characters, other than Dr. Heidegger, do not have a well-rounded personality. They are caricatures or type characters, each exemplifying at least 1 out of the 7 deadly sins of Christianity.

· Mr. Medbourne, a once prosperous merchant, “had lost his all by a frantic speculation.” A frantic speculation suggests gambling and a strong desire to accumulate more wealth than is needed. This is the sin of **greed**. Mr. Medbourne later shows this trait as he fights over Lady Wycherly and also when he asks for more water in order to become younger.

· Colonel Killigrew had “his health and substance.” But associating him with sinful pleasure or sex shows what happens when someone pursues **lust**. He is currently reaping the seeds that he sows because his body is deteriorating. He has gout. The like syphilis, one of those wages-of-sin diseases, which, in folklore, only afflicts people who have been guilty of gross self-indulgence. (//Gout and Syphilis have similar symptoms)// .Lust is also shown as he fights to be the one to dance with Widow Wycherly. He only wants her because she currently looks wonderful, not because he loved her.

· Mr. Gascoigne was an “infamous politician whom no body recalls.” His **pride** was at an all time high because he was also “a man of evil fame.” But that trait was too strong in him as he refused to adapt to the present generation.

· Widow Wycherly represents **vanity.** “She was a great beauty in her day.” But now that she is old, no gentlemen look at her. Not even those whose used to quarrel over her. She may have had too many scandalous relationships with men because she was beautiful. Later in the story, she becomes mesmerized by looking at her young self in the mirror.

All 3 men also represent vanity because they have let themselves go. They feel that it is only when they are young and great-looking that they can accomplish anything. That is why the speaker includes the phrase about hem being “early lovers of the Widow Wycherly.” They were intertwined with vanity. That is also why they try to dance and mingle with the Widow once they are young again.

The relationship between the guests is that they were all Widow Wycherly's lover. Their similarities include the fact that they were once highly regarded figures, they are old friends of Dr. Heidegger, and they are deeply conflicted about things in the past.

• Dr. Heidegger is described as a “very singular man.” Singular can mean both extraordinary and strange. He is not described much because he is an observer who rarely interacts with his guest. He seems to be by himself often. He says that he amuses himself in his study, as if he spends most of his time there.

** SETTING ** The setting is Dr. Heidegger's study. It supports the use of symbolism because it creates the right atmosphere where the 4 guests can interact and their flaws/sins can be observed or //studied.// The setting is typical of the author. “The Birthmark”, “Rappaccini's Daughter”, “The Artist of the Beautiful” all involve a character in a place where new ideas are tested or created. When I think of a study, I picture dark walls covered with shelves full of dark leather bound books, where a lot of unconventional knowledge is kept. There is enough space for the guests to all sit down. Therefore, they are comfortable and would act in their habitual ways. This is most likely to be set in early 1800s, otherwise Mr. Medbourne would not have been a “merchant” in his youth. The word choice defines the setting. Also, most of Hawthorne's stories are set in colonial New England.

The narrator is an outside observer. He is someone who knows the characters inside-out. He is external and omniscient, which are God-like qualities. Therefore he would be the best to judge the characters based on their past and present actions. He is speaks in the first person, which projects an air of honestly and reliability. He bluntly points out the characters' flaws. He is completely aware of what he is saying. He does not need to give the character's thoughts because their sins/ flaws. Like God, he sees them in their true light.
 * NARRATOR **

** FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE ** The narrator states that all of the guests and Dr. Heidegger are “sometime thought to be a little beside themselves.” To be beside oneself means to be completely lost in a memory, emotion, or state of being. The 4 guests are captivated into their characteristics, which are some of the deadly sins. They are troubled by “woful recollections.” A part of them from the past, an event or attribute, is stuck with them to this day. Moreover, characters are labeled Mr., Colonel, Dr. and Widow. This suggests that the tone of the story is serious and that exemplary character is what a typical, older person should have.

** REPRESENTATION OF REALITY ** The short story is a moral representation of the world. The author's story are usually allegorical. The allegory is also a parable. Therefore it has spiritual representations. A truth in the characters' personalities is revealed. The extensive imagery and tone used to describe the 4 guests suggests that the reader should avoid going down the same path as the guests. There are people in the world today who can relate to the characters because they are also in a place where they are tormented by their past.

The theme is that those who go on in life acting in ways that is sinful or against Christian values, will always be sad, woeful, and unsatisfied. All the things that they value most will fade away and they may be trapped in the quest to regain their cherished possessions. Also, mankind is full sin, some more exaggerated than others. Hawthorne allows the reader to see his own personal moral vision and religious values. His works are classified as Dark-Romanticism because the supposed inherent evil of mankind is held up to scrutiny. Being deliberately sinful is an evil act against God. The author is very religious as he is defined as a bridge between Puritanism and Transcendentalism. The latter ideology focuses on the analysis of thought and character.

The inclusion of the words and phrases: evil, creatures, grave, torments of soul and body, cutting each other's throat,have common association with hell which is an undesirable place.

** WORLD-VIEW ** The claim about the world that the story makes is that men does not always live up to his expectations. Small characteristics, that are not dealt with, can lead to an undesirable future. Since the story is allegorical, it represents the 7 deadly sins (wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony) in a negative light, therefore promoting the heavenly virtues ( chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness, and humility.) Also, being venerable and white-bearded does not signify good character. Culturally, being wholesome and well-rounded are looked up upon.

// P.S. // Widow Wycherly reminds me of Hester Prynne from __The Scarlet Letter__ whose pregnancy, due to adultery, was scandalous. She was shunned and Wycherly lived in seclusion.

[|Christianity]