Dr. Heidegger invites four elderly friends to his study for an experiment, consisting of three men (Mr. Medbourne, Colonel Killigrew, and Mr. Gascoigne) and one woman (the Widow Clara Wycherly). The study is a dusty room with various items including a skeleton in the closet, a bust of Hippocrates, numerous books and bookcases, and a portrait of Sylvia Ward. Sylvia Ward died fifty-five years ago before her wedding to Dr. Heidegger after taking one of his prescribed medicines.
The doctor showcases a withered rose he received as a gift in the past. He delicately places it into a vase containing water from the Fountain of Youth in Florida, which was sent to him by a friend. Astonishingly, the rose rejuvenates and regains its vibrant colors. Moving forward, the doctor pours some of the liquid from the vase into four champagne glasses for his companions. Upon consuming this elixir, they perceive signs of intoxication and feel liberated from the burdens of aging. Dr. Heidegger advises them to utilize their life experiences to develop virtue and wisdom as they are granted a second chance at youthfulness. Gradually, their inhibitions fade away with each sip.
Colonel Killigrew is attracted to the widow and compliments her. Mr. Gascoigne speaks in a way that politicians find pleasing. Mr. Medbourne proposes a plan to use whales to transport icebergs to the East Indies. Dr. Heidegger does not participate in the experiment, but watches their behavior seriously. Once they become young again, they mock their old-fashioned clothing and show disdain for the characteristics of old age that they have left behind. Eventually, the widow invites the doctor to dance, but he declines due to his old age and rheumatism.
The three additional guests attempt to join the woman in dancing, causing chaos and resulting in the table with the vase of the Water of Youth and rose to topple over. The liquid reaches a dying butterfly, bringing it back to life and allowing it to land on Dr. Heidegger’s white hair. As a result, the rose loses its vitality and the guests once again show signs of aging. Dr. Heidegger expresses his relief for not having consumed the liquid, realizing that this unnatural return to youth should not be celebrated. However, his determined guests remain undeterred and decide to embark on a quest for the Fountain of Youth, intending to drink from it three times daily.
Themes and Meanings: The title, “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment,” hints at the story’s significance as it involves a scientific-minded doctor conducting an experiment, which could potentially impart some lesson. Through the use of the word “experiment,” the title evokes notions of medicine, chemistry, physiology, or physics. Furthermore, the surname Heidegger has Swiss origins and refers to someone from the fortress Heidegg in Zurich’s canton. Interestingly, the doctor shares the same surname as John James Heidegger (1659? -1749), a Swiss contemporary of the composer Handel who served as manager of the opera house and oversaw revelries during King George II’s reign in England.
The play features characters with surnames that bear resemblance to famous figures from English history during the same time period. Noteworthy among them is William Wycherley (1640? -1716), a renowned playwright known for his portrayal of immorality, whose widow Elizabeth is significantly younger. Other characters include two dramatists, Thomas Killigrew (1612-1683) and his son Thomas Killigrew the younger (1657-1719), as well as Sir William Killigrew (1606-1695), another dramatist. Additionally, there is Charles Killigrew (1655-1725), who holds the position of master of the revels, George Gascoigne (c. 1539-1577), a poet, Sir Thomas Gascoigne (1593? 1686), who was allegedly involved in a conspiracy, and Matthew Medbourne (died 1679), an actor and dramatist recognized for translating Moliere’s works.
The doctor’s deceased lover, Sylvia Ward, may have been named after the quack doctor Joshua Ward (1685-1761), who was renowned for his “Ward’s remedy” – a supposed panacea in liquid and pill form. It is believed that this remedy might have caused more harm than good. Interestingly, Dr. Heidegger’s fiancée perished after consuming one of her lover’s prescriptions. In this instance, it genuinely could be considered a “Ward’s remedy”. It seems highly probable that Nathaniel Hawthorne portrayed his characters based on these individuals due to their immoral conduct and ability to evoke a bygone era.
Most of the guests lived long lives as well. The doctor refrains from drinking the potion himself, but the elderly group experiences a temporary rejuvenation. Despite their life experiences, they remain true to their flawed characters during their return to youth. The doctor, who doesn’t try to combat the effects of aging in his own life, uses the experiment to show that people with shallow, vicious personalities don’t benefit from growing older and continue to pursue empty pleasures. Each guest can be seen as representing a vice or weakness: the widow symbolizes scandalous flirtation, Mr. Medbourne embodies greedy commerce, the colonel represents indulgent lust, and Mr. Gascoigne epitomizes political corruption. Throughout the story, they stay true to their nature, ignoring Dr. Heidegger’s advice to act with wisdom. The elixir is spilled, causing them to lose their fleeting youth but not their desire for the unattainable. Hawthorne humorously teaches a moral lesson while satirizing human imperfections. Sylvia’s rose and the butterfly, which comes back to life in the spilled liquid, symbolize the temporary nature of youth and beauty.
Hawthorne’s skill and mastery in style and technique make this moral fable enjoyable. Even if Dr. Heidegger was a virtuous person, the lesson would be less captivating. However, even his expertise as a doctor cannot prevent the spirits of his deceased patients from appearing in the fabulous mirror whenever he looks at it. The mirror symbolizes the power of illusion, which is a recurring theme in the story, along with the unnamed book of magic. The narrator playfully suggests that some of the doctor’s reputation as an oddball can be attributed to the author’s own imagination. Hawthorne effectively incorporates gothic romance elements, such as cobwebs, dust, bookcases, a skeleton in the closet, and the mystical mirror. One particular event, common in the genre and still relevant during Hawthorne’s time, is when the chambermaid lifts the book of magic during her dusting, causing the skeleton to rattle in the closet and faces of the doctor’s deceased patients to appear in the mirror. The bronze bust of Hippocrates frowns and commands them to cease. This story carries a whimsical sense of humor.
The narrator of the text suggests that the doctor and guests were sometimes seen as slightly insane, which can happen to elderly people troubled by present problems or sad memories. This sarcastically demonstrates a seriousness. Dr. Heidegger humorously reveals the location of the Fountain of Youth not discovered by Ponce de Leon, stating “The famous Fountain of Youth is located in the southern part of the Floridian peninsula, not too far from Lake Macaco.” Referring to Lake Macaco will not assist the guests in their search for the elixir; its name being applied to a type of lemur adds humor. Furthermore, describing the guests as “venerable,” “respected,” and “respectable” gains humor because it is inappropriate given their questionable character and behavior. Hawthorne acknowledges readers’ skepticism towards miracles by presenting alternative explanations for portrayed events.
In Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment, the youthful actions of the three men are attributed to intoxicating elements in the water from the Fountain of Youth, “unless, indeed, their exhilaration of spirits were merely a lightsome dizziness caused by the sudden removal of the weight of years.” The experiment takes place when Old Dr. Heidegger invites four elderly friends – Mr. Medbourne, who was once a rich merchant but lost all his money on speculation; Colonel Killigrew, who is suffering in old age due to a wild lifestyle he lived when he was young; Mr. Gascoigne, a ruined politician who is now hardly known; and Widow Wycherly, whose reputation had long been ruined despite her former beauty – to his dusty and old-fashioned study filled with bookshelves containing papers and quartos. In this study stands a bust of Hippocrates that Dr. Heidegger consults with occasionally. Interestingly enough, all three men had previously been suitors for Widow Wycherly and engaged in fierce competition for her affection.
In one corner of the room, there is a closet with a skeleton. Next to it, there is a sizable mirror that supposedly contains the spirits of Dr. Heidegger’s dead patients who will stare back at anyone looking into it. Moreover, there hangs a big portrait of a woman whom the doctor was once engaged to but tragically died after taking medicine he prescribed on their wedding eve. The most fascinating item, as noted by the narrator, is a large black folio secured with silver clasps that is believed to have magical properties. There was an incident when the cleaning lady tried to lift it; the skeleton in the closet rattled, the woman in the portrait appeared, and Hippocrates’ bust exclaimed “Cease your actions!” (A more elegant way of saying “Stop!”)
In the summer afternoon of our story, Dr. Heidegger prepares a table in his study with four champagne glasses and a beautiful vase. He asks his guests for help in an experiment. The narrator acknowledges that Dr. Heidegger is an eccentric man, and that he himself is often the source of rumors about him. If the reader has doubts, the narrator accepts it. Moving on, Dr. Heidegger opens his mysterious black folio with silver clasps, taking out an old, withered rose that was given to him by his deceased bride-to-be fifty-five years ago. He then places the rose in the vase on the table. The guests observe as the rose regains its color and youthful appearance, as if it has just bloomed. The guests believe this to be a clever trick. However, Dr. Heidegger explains that it is not magic, as he asks if they are familiar with the Fountain of Youth.
According to the story, Spanish conquistador Ponce de Leon searched for the mythical fountain in Florida but was unsuccessful. However, Heidegger’s friend in Florida recently found the fountain and sent Heidegger some of its water. Colonel Killigrew expresses doubt and questions the purpose of the water. Dr. Heidegger assures him that it can restore youth. Although he himself has no desire to be young again due to past troubles, he offers his guests the opportunity to try it. He fills four champagne glasses with water from the vase. Before they drink, Dr. Heidegger advises them to remember the lessons learned from their first youth and not repeat past mistakes.
The guests agree and drink the water, feeling themselves becoming younger. They eagerly request more water, but Dr. Heidegger advises patience and pours them another round. As they continue to drink, the men start behaving strangely, possibly due to either the water making them intoxicated or the sudden rejuvenation causing dizziness.
Mr. Gascoigne is engaged in thoughts about politics, whether it be present or past politics. Colonel Killigrew is singing drinking songs loudly, while Mr. Medbourne is preoccupied with matters related to money. The Widow, who was once beautiful, rushes to a large mirror to admire her new youthful appearance, feeling extremely happy with her looks. All four of them dance around and make fun of the elderly clothing they are wearing. Meanwhile, Heidegger sits back and observes this scene unfold, resembling “Father Time” (32).
The Widow invites Dr. Heidegger to dance with her, but he declines due to his age and suggests one of the other men instead. This causes a heated argument among the three men as they all desire to dance with the Widow. Interestingly, the mirror in the room displays an unusual reflection where all four guests still appear old, although no one notices this peculiarity. Meanwhile, as the three men continue to fight over the Widow, their scuffle results in knocking over a vase filled with water from the fountain of youth. The vase shatters into numerous pieces and releases the water, which spills across the floor. A dying butterfly gets its wings entangled in the water and instantly rejuvenates, becoming young and energetic again. The butterfly then flies over to Dr. Heidegger and lands on his white hair.
Dr. Heidegger requests his guests to calm down and retrieves his rose from the broken pieces on the floor. The men cease their fighting and turn their attention to Dr. Heidegger who holds the withered rose in his hand once again. The Doctor expresses his fondness for the rose even in its dewy freshness (47). At that moment, the butterfly falls lifeless to the floor, causing the four guests to feel themselves aging once more, prompting them to exclaim in distress. Dr. Heidegger confirms their suspicion and reveals that all the water from the fountain of youth has been spilled on the floor. Nevertheless, he does not regret this incident as observing the effects on the four guests has taught him a valuable lesson, convincing him not to drink from the fountain under any circumstance. However, the guests do not share Dr. Heidegger’s perspective. They pledge to journey to Florida, locate the fountain, and consume its water continuously throughout the day.
