Ricardo C. Calla
ENL121-02
October 15, 1997
Major Paper #1
 
 

     Leon Trotsky, the Russian revolutionist, wrote in his Diary in Exile, " The depth and strength of a human character are defined by its moral reserves. People reveal themselves completely only when they are thrown out of the customary conditions of their life, for only then do they have to fall back on their reserves." Nathaniel Hawthorne gives us a 19^th century example of this phenomenon in "Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment". The theme of this story is that a person’s character, once developed does not change over time, and when faced with conflict and adversity, their true character becomes boldly evident.

     Hawthorne himself provides the narration, although he does not identify his character, nor is his character present during the experiment. The narrator appears to be telling this story based on events relayed to him by other people, and there are times throughout the story when Hawthorne admits that the events are sometimes unbelievable.

     He leads us to question whether this story actually takes place, or is the story merely a tool, a demonstration of a moral Puritan principle, similar to a parable found in the Bible. The effect is the same: a lesson about morality, about living life as God would want us to, and the consequences we suffer when we fail to do so.

     Relevant symbols are abounding in this story, from setting to names to objects. The dim room that the five occupy is a symbol of death, the death that they will soon face. Complete with dust, cobwebs and a skeleton, the description of the room is more like that of a mausoleum, instead of the good Dr.’s study. The oak bookcases are reminiscent of the wood that will create their coffins. More peculiar is the large black folio. The folio is a scrapbook that represents Dr. Heidegger’s life. We all have a folio. It is that glimpse of our own lives, that flash we see briefly but completely right before our eyes when faced with the unexpected reality of our own death. God sees this folio also, but in a manner more thoroughly than we would. In this sense Dr. Heidegger symbolizes God. But is Heidegger in fact playing God by giving these poor souls this elixir of life? Unlike Lazarus of the New Testament, these four are not worthy and will not triumph over certain death because they do not believe in God nor in living their lives for others. Could it be that Heidegger is actually the devil? Take notice that Heidegger does not drink the elixir. He knows the consequences. Is it not within his character to do so; or is he like the serpent in the Garden of Eden, and the elixir is his apple?

     The rose is a most important symbol and has implications throughout the story. Roses symbolize love, and in this case Heidegger has kept the rose for 50 years to symbolize his love and commitment for the woman he once loved. It is a reminder of the past. When placed in the water the rose suddenly comes back to life. It is beautiful and vibrant and fragrant just as life should be. But roses may also symbolize death. Roses are most typically placed inside and/or on top of a coffin during burial. This rose symbolizes death for the four when it withers again.

     Notice the attention that Hawthorne gives to names in the story. In Dr. Heidegger’s name we see both the word die and degger, probably referring to gravedigger. Is Widow Wicherly such an evil woman that we would consider her to be a witch? Consider the fact that she has lead such a life of ill repute, that symbol is most appropriate. Hawthorne’s Puritan background as well as ancestral link to the Salem witch trials shine through with this example. And one could not think of a better name to symbolize a politician full of hot air than Mr. Gascoigne. It seems that mankind’s opinion of politicians has remained steadfast throughout the centuries.

     On the surface, the conflict that appears to be most noticeable is that of youth vs. age. Here are four elderly people drinking a magic elixir of life to restore their youth and permit them to transgress their lives, learning from their previous mistakes to take advantage of their new found fortune. This however does not occur. The more important conflict to this story is life vs. death: how we live our lives because life is a precious gift given to us by God. And also how we die, because this is a reflection of how we have lived, whether it is with dignity and reverence or with arrogance and contempt.

     I offer an unusual perspective on the subject of death. I personally have witnessed probably hundreds of deaths in my line of work. Most elderly people will tell you that when faced with their own mortality, that they are ready to die. These are usually God-fearing people. They will tell you that they have lived a good life and they thank God for their opportunities and prosperity. You do not see this same behavior in these four fools. No, they are not God-fearing people, nor are they ready for death. Instead, these four display a selfish volition throughout their lives. Their character remains the same. When stimulated by the elixir, they return to their self-serving ways. For example, the Widow Wycherly as she stands before the mirror is concerned only with her own vain appearance and the attention that she attracts from the three men. Mr. Gascoigne’s oratory ramblings are also evidence of this as he indulges himself with a wit and articulation long since forgotten, instead of a more selfless pursuit.

     The irony of this all lies in the fact that these people have not learned the lesson about character from their past history. The past is a difficult reference to forget. Given a new opportunity, the four revert back to their old habits. This behavior climaxes with the three men fighting over the Widow, and breaking the vase containing the water. So there is also irony here because in their attempt to satisfy their own indulgences, they destroy the product that has given them new life. The shattered vase symbolizes their shattered lives, lives that would remain forever unchanged because their character remains unchanged. Even though their physical appearances undergo a metamorphosis, the silhouette in the mirror still depicts them as frail and pathetic old souls. When dealing with character, the mirror simply proves that these four can not fool their conscience. It does so by displaying for us the reflection of their souls.

     In regards to the past, Friedrich Nietzsche, the German philosopher, offers perhaps the simplest explanation. He says, "Man...cannot learn to forget, but hangs on to the past: however far or fast he runs, that chain runs with him." That chain in essence is character. In the end, these four selfish people epitomize Nietzsche’s quote by agreeing to search out and find the Fountain of Youth for themselves. They have missed the point completely. Without giving up the past, their old character, they have nothing to look forward to in their brief remaining future on earth, as well as their time in eternity.