(1)      In “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment," Nathaniel Hawthorne expresses [Diction] that if given the chance to regain your youth, some would not have learned from their past mistakes, to change the way would live their life again.  In “Dr Heidegger’s Experiment” Hawthorne uses his characters to describe how life experiences should have an impression in our lives.

(2)      Dr Heidegger was an old scientist, who has a very strange way of presenting himself.  He works by himself in his study.  Which many find to be a “very curious place.”(Pg. 578) [Frag -1] In his study there is a picture of a women [Hostage 50] who once was his lover.  She was going to be the one that he was going to marry, but she had been affected with a disorder and had taken some of the pills he prescribed and died. “She had swallowed one of her lovers prescription’s and died on the bridal evening.”(Pg. 579)  It is thought that Dr. Heidegger might have had something to do with her death, but it was unknown.  “The greatest curiosity of the study remains to be mentioned.”(Pg. 579) [Why was this uotation included?] The doctor had an experiment that would turn back the hands of time, but he would not have any part of it, he just wanted to observe.  [How is this paragraph related to the thesis?]

(3)      Dr. Heidegger called on four of his friends to help him with his experiment. [This topic sentence suggests a plot summary.]  Mr. Medbourne who was a prosperous merchant in his early day (Pg. 579), Colonel Killigrew wasted his years on sinful pleasures (Pg. 579), Mr. Guscoigne was a ruined politician (Pg. 579), and Widow Wycherly was a beauty in her younger day, but had been isolated from society (Pg. 579).  All of the friends had lived a life of relationships with all three men, [homosexual?] which almost caused them to kill each other over her, “had once been on the point of cutting each other's throats for her sake.”(Pg. 579) [This quotation is inaccurate.]  This is what caused for her to be an outcast with the town. “scandalous stories which had prejudiced the gentry of the town against her.”(Pg. 579) [Frag - 1] When asked to participate in the experiment, they were all a little skeptical. [Why is this relevant to the thesis?] Mr. Medbourne and Mr. Gascoigne went along with it, but Colonel and Widow Wycherly found it to be nonsense.  After agreeing, they were asked to make rules for guidance, so when they were young again they do not make the same mistakes.  “The doctor's friends made him no answer, except for the tremulous laugh, the idea was very ridiculous.”(Pg. 581)  They then proceeded with the experiment, after they are young again, they do everything that they said they never would do. [CS-1] [The writer could have focussed on the character of each of the four friends, but has not done so; instead, the preceding is basically a plot summary.]

(4)      There is a lot of conflict between them, from when they are old to when they are young.  Before venturing into the experiment they are melancholy beings that are unsure about the experiment.  After being in the experiment they are cheerful, and are asking for more water.  They make fun of the old people; they even joke about the clothing that they are wearing.  As the experiment continued they did everything that they said they would not.  Mr Medbourne was thinking of how he was going to become rich, "Involved in calculation of dollars and cents, with which was strangely intermingled a project for supplying the East Indies with ice, by harnessing a team of whale to the polar icebergs.”(Pg. 583)  Colonel Killigrew was busy singing beer songs and checking out Widow Wycherly’s figure, “all this time he had been trolling forth a jolly bottle song, and ringing his glass in symphony with the chorus, while his eyes wandered towards the buxom figure of the Widow Wycherly.”(Pg. 583)  Mr. Gascoigne was busy with the political topics running in his head.  “He rattled forth full-throated sentences about patriotism, national glory, and the peoples rights; now he muttered some perilous stuff or other, in a sly and doubtful whisper”, “as if a royal ear were listening to his well turned periods.”(Pg. 583)  At last there is Widow Wycherly, who was busy dancing in front of a mirror gazing at herself.  “She stood before the mirror curtsying and simpering to her own image, and greeting it as the friend whom she loved better than all the world beside.” (Pg. 583)  They later found themselves in the same situation, when they were alive. They all wanted to dance with her be cause [because] of her restored beauty, “there a livelier picture of youthful rivalship, with bewitching beauty for the prize.’ (Pg. 586) [Inaccurate page reference.] “The three rivals began interchanging threatening glances, still keeping hold of the fair prize.” (Pg. 586)  Which causes them to begin a fight over her again.  [Frag - 1] This causes the water to be dumped all over the floor.  Having the water on the floor and out of the vase causes the experiment to be reversed.

(5)      As the story started to unfold, also came along with it were different tones. [Poor topic sentence -- How does the tone relate to your view of the theme?] The story has a scary tone to it.  Dr Heideggers study for instance, the cobwebs decorating the old fashion chambers.  The dust that seems to have been there for a while. [Frag -1]  “The study must have been a very curious place, It was dim, old fashion chamber, festoon with cobwebs and sprinkled with antique dust.”(Pg. 579)  The mirror that hangs over the bookcase, “it was fabled that spirits of all the doctors deceased patience’s dwell within its verge, and would stare him in the face whenever he looked in.”(Pg. 580) [Poor sentence structure] The picture of his young lady was said to walk out of the picture if you touched any of his books, which were said to magic book. [?] “ the picture of the young lady had stepped one foot upon the floor, and several ghastly faces had peered forth from the mirror, while the brazen head of Hippocrates frowned, and the skeleton rattled in the closet.”(Pg. 580)

(6)      The question of why once again faced the readers. [?] Dr. Heidegger did not drink any of the water; he said that he only wanted to observe.  Why did he not want to return to his youth?  “I am old and rheumatic, and my dancing days are over.”(Pg. 854) [Inaccurate page reference.]  If he had seen that the water worked, why didn’t he drink some of it to.[Hostage 50]  After the story ends, the tone changes again to be happy for him.  The readers learn that Dr. Heidegger has appreciated growing old and has also learned that the advantages of aging are gaining knowledge through life experiences. [Which of his experiences did he learn from?] While the others plan a pilgrimage to Florida to drink from the Fountain of Youth, he says, “he would not stoop to bathe my lips in it.”(Pg. 583)

(7)      Hawthorne’s “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” is a story that makes you think.  If given the chance, would you return to your youth and relive it all over again.?  What Hawthorne tries to tell us (readers) is as long as you have learned some life long lessons through your life, who needs to go through it again.     

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