"Dr. Heidegger's Experiment:" Story Analysis

Biography 'Nathaniel Hawthorne'
Hawthorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts, where his birthplace is now a house museum. The Hawthornes enjoyed a long marriage, and had three children together.
He is best-known today for his many short stories (he called them "tales") and his four major romances of 1850-1860: The Scarlet Letter (1850), The House of the Seven Gables (1851), The Blithedale Romance (1852), and The Marble Faun (1860).
Hewrote during the romantic era of writing, which was a European artistic and intellectual movement of the early 19th century.

Summery
At the beginning of the story, Dr. Heidegger invited 4 old, sad friends to help him with one of his experiments. He then offered them a drink from the Fountain of Youth, which they accepted. They drank three glasses each, and did not pay attention to the Doctors advice. They were young at once, and the 2 gentlemen started fighting over their woman friend, proving that they did not learn from their past mistakes.They grew old again very soon, and Dr. Heidegger then realized the lesson they have taught him, but his 4 friends did not learn it: They were already making plans to go and find the Fountain of Youth in Florida.

Story Plot
Conflict: The conflict was Dr. Heidegger's experiment to see if people can change if given a second chance.
Rising Action: - When Dr. Heidegger asked his friends to be part of his experiment.
                      - When he made his point with the rose.
                      - He told his friends about the Fountain of Youth.
Climax: When the vase breaks, with the water from the Fountain of Youth.
Resolution: Dr. Heidegger's friends did not learn their lesson, they decided to head out right away for Florida.

Characters:
- Dr. Heidegger: The one who performs the experiment. He is described as a strange old man.
- Mr. Medbourne: Old with a white beard, was once very rich, but was very greedy and lost his fortune.
- Mr. Gascon: Old with a white beard, was a famous politician, but was dishonest. He was caught stealing money, sent to jail and now is poor man that lived in shame.
- Colonel Killigrew: Old with a white beard, was once a great soldier. He spent his life eating and drinking too much, and was is now in bad health.
- Widow Wycherly: She was once very beautiful, but was very conceited as well. Now she is old and not beautiful.

Moral
The moral of the story is Dr. Heidegger's epiphany. That even if people are given a second chance at life, they still make the same mistakes over again.

Opinion
Yes, I did enjoy this story. It is a short story so their isn't much plot in it, but I found it entertaining to read. The fact that they grew old very fast was something I did not expect. I also fully agree with the moral of the story. I believe first of all that no one really deserves a second chance, and that even when they are given one, they still don't change.

The Story Irony
The irony in the story is that, even with Dr. Heidegger pointing out his advice. Also even after being young again the committed the same mistakes (making no sense for them to try a do-over in life). When they grew old again, the only thing they could think of was drinking more water.