Dr. Heidegger’s
Experiment
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Dr. Heidegger invites four old people (friends) to meet
him (3 men, 1 woman—Colonel Killigrew, Widow
Wycherly, Mr. Gascoigne, and Mr. Medbourne) They
have not had great lives. All 3 men had dated the
woman when they were younger and had fought over
her.
Dr. Heidegger wants them to participate in an
experiment.
Dr. Heidegger’s study is a creepy, supernatural place.
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Dr. Heidegger has acquired water from the
Fountain of Youth. He changes a dead rose
back to living. He wants his friends to drink the
water so that he can see if it works and study the
changes.
He warns them not to repeat the errors of their
youths.
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Their transformation is slow and all four beg for
more, showing that they are actually greedy, vain,
selfish people.
They begin to act young and act as they did
when they were younger.
The men fight again over the woman.
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While they are fighting, they break the vase that
hold the Fountain of Youth water.
The Fountain of Youth water does not last.
First the rose dies, then the people grow old
again.
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Dr. Heidegger learns that it’s not all that great to
repeat your youth and that some never learn
from their mistakes.
The four learn nothing—they immediately make
plans to move to Florida and drink from the
Fountain of Youth morning, noon, and night
and stay young forever.