Dr. Heidegger's Experiment by Nathaniel Hawthorne

1. Squandered best years pursuing pleasure

1. Once a politician, now obscure

1. A once prosperous merchant who lost all

1. A one-time great beauty with Scandalous stories

Annotations:

• His study is describe as and old fashioned chamber with cobwebs and sprinkled with antique dust. It also features oak book cases.

1. Bronze Bust of Hippocrates

   Annotations:

   • In a strange supernatural twist, or as a reflection of eccentricity, Dr. Heidegger has been known to consult the Hippocrates bust on difficult cases.
2. Black Magic book

   Annotations:

   • If a chambermaid merely disturbed the dust from the cover of the book, the skeleton would shake, spirits in the mirror would be brought forth in the mirror. And the Hippocrates Bust would say, "Forbear!" Which means back off...The magic book features silver clasps..that means to you cannot come across the information by accident.
3. Skeleton in closet

   Annotations:

   • The Skeleton in the closet adds mystery to the setting.
4. Mirror with tarnish frame

   Annotations:

   • In the mirror, spirits of Doctor Heidegger's dead patients could be seen. This mirror also shows that the four characters who drank the from the fountain of youth were still old, and still at heart, the same old people.
5. Sylvia Ward-- Full length portrait

   Annotations:

   • Silvia Ward was to marry the doctor 55 years ago but she died before they wed from one of the prescriptions prepared by Dr. Heidegger. Dr. Heidegger keeps the rose he would have worn in his lapel on his wedding day in the black magic book.

Annotations:

• The four guests drank the water from champagne glasses. The 55 year old rose that had been in the book of magic also came back to life. The water from the fountain of youth "effervescent from the surface, resembled "the tremulous glitter of diamonds." A "mild moon-like splendor gleaned from within the vase."

1. The 4 guests mock old age

   Annotations:

   • They imitate the old and infirm, limping on a gout leg, mocking their old dated looking clothing.
2. Dr. Heidegger does not drink it

   Annotations:

   • He does not drink potion because he does not want to go through the difficult process of getting old again.
3. 3 Male guests Flirt with Widow Wycherly
4. The Widow finds her reflection fascinating