The story was published anonymously in 1837, it was later published in Hawthorne's collection Twice-Told Tales, also in 1837.
'Dr. Heidegger's Experiment' is a short story that explores a quest for eternal youth.
The story begins with Dr. Heidegger inviting four of his friends to meet him in his workroom.
''They were all melancholy old creatures, who had been unfortunate in life.''
According to the doctor, none of them were happy because of the recklessness in their youth. For example, Colonel Killigrew is suffering now from the many unhealthy choices he made during his youth, and a common factor among these friends was a Lady Wycherly, who is a widow and has been shut in for years because of rumours spread about her in the town. She used to be pursued by men at the time.
Dr. Heidegger calls his friends together and asks them to participate in an experiment. He has brought a special water from the Fountain of Youth in Florida, and he demonstrates its power by bringing an old preserved rose back to bloom. His friends are shocked and in awe but skeptical but try the water anyway. It works, and as they grow younger, they begin acting like the reckless people they were in their youth, with the three men fighting over Widow Wycherly until the vase of water breaks.
Adapted from Hawthorne fan blog.
The major themes of the story are on the nature of science experiments and social affinity that inventors gained through performing or showcasing them. And man’s desire for eternal youth is a never ending and always discussed matter.
Image - Boston Public Library, Fountain of Youth, Florida, 1870 - Courtesy AmericanLiterature
No comments:
Post a Comment