Warning: Use of undefined constant referer - assumed 'referer' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 102

Warning: Use of undefined constant host - assumed 'host' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 105

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays:102) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 106

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays:102) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 109
Dr. Heidegger's Experiment: Reality Or Illusion - College Paper

Dr. Heidegger's Experiment: Reality Or Illusion

In Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story Dr. Heidegger's Experiment, one of
the central ideas of the story revolves around the idea of reality versus
illusion. Of course the overriding theme of the story dealt with the ethical
dilemma of changing old age into youth, still a major part of how the story was
interpreted involved a personal decision on how you took the story; as literal
or figurative. The perception that appealed to me the most was reading the
text as literal, and concluding the experiment as reality rather then a figment
of imagination caused by the intoxicating brew.

A couple of points that Hawthorne made led me to believe that the story
was indeed a true testament of the ...

Want to read the rest of this paper?
Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay
and over 50,000 other term papers

when the
rose regains life nobody was drunk or had even attempted to drink the water.

"The crushed and dried petals stirred, and assumed a deepening tinge of crimson,
as if the flower were reviving from a death-like slumber;"(page 3)

It is that clear cut, and completely undeniable considering that five people
witnessed the act and not one had the slightest objection.

After the first drink of the potion until the last, I was still led to
the opinion that what the guests were experiencing was in fact real and
completely genuine. At this point I will point out that it is at this exact
moment where the issue of reality versus illusion begins to take shape.
However, while we left to toil with this intriguing notion, it seems quite
intentional on the part of Hawthorne to make us decide on which side we are for.
I would say his reasoning for dividing us would be to point out that while it
may be real or a delusion it's ethical and moral message should be clear cut to
everyone. ...

Get instant access to over 50,000 essays.
Write better papers. Get better grades.

Already a member? Login

CITE THIS PAGE:

APA
MLA
Chicago
Turabian

Dr. Heidegger's Experiment: Reality Or Illusion. (2004, January 11). Retrieved January 22, 2025, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Dr-Heideggers-Experiment-Reality-Or-Illusion/1281

"Dr. Heidegger's Experiment: Reality Or Illusion." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 11 Jan. 2004. Web. 22 Jan. 2025. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Dr-Heideggers-Experiment-Reality-Or-Illusion/1281>

"Dr. Heidegger's Experiment: Reality Or Illusion." Essayworld.com. January 11, 2004. Accessed January 22, 2025. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Dr-Heideggers-Experiment-Reality-Or-Illusion/1281.

JOIN NOW

Join today and get instant access to this and 50,000+ other essays

PAPER DETAILS

Added: 1/11/2004 02:37:53 AM
Category: English
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 801
Pages: 3

Save |

Report

SHARE THIS PAPER

SAVED ESSAYS

Save and find your favorite essays easier