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Hawthorne's "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment": Reality Or Illusion - College Essay

Hawthorne's "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 ...

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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. ...

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Hawthorne's "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment": Reality Or Illusion. (2007, December 27). Retrieved January 13, 2026, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Hawthornes-Dr-Heideggers-Experiment-Reality-Illusion/76515

"Hawthorne's "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment": Reality Or Illusion." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 27 Dec. 2007. Web. 13 Jan. 2026. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Hawthornes-Dr-Heideggers-Experiment-Reality-Illusion/76515>

"Hawthorne's "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment": Reality Or Illusion." Essayworld.com. December 27, 2007. Accessed January 13, 2026. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Hawthornes-Dr-Heideggers-Experiment-Reality-Illusion/76515.

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 12/27/2007 04:18:10 AM
Category: English
Type: Free Paper
Words: 801
Pages: 3

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