The Birthmark And Dr. Heidegger's Experiment

Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American novelist and short story writer born in Salem, Massachusetts in 1804. Some of his most popular short stories include “The Birthmark,” “Rappaccini’s Daughter,” and “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment.” “The Birthmark,” which was published in March of 1843, is a story about a beautiful girl named Georgiana who has a red birthmark on her cheek. She is described as flawless throughout the community, but the hand-shaped birthmark smears a sense of imperfection onto her otherwise perfect body. Throughout the story, her husband, Aylmer, attempts to remove the birthmark and control nature in the process. “Rappaccini’s Daughter” is centered around a young student named Giovanni who arrives in Padua to study medicine. He soon

discovers that Rappaccini has poisoned his daughter, Beatrice, with toxins for the sake of his experiment. Anything touched by Beatrice is infected with a poison and may die as well. Finally, “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” includes an experiment in which four subjects drink the water of youth. Heidegger gives them the water to analyze human behavior but understands that it will not actually make them younger. Hawthorne depicts scientists in his three stories as individuals who are unable to overcome nature’s grasp on the environment. Throughout the three tales, Hawthorne seems to perceive scientists as individuals who desire perfection, value experimentation over human life, and wish to understand human behavior.
Firstly, throughout “The Birthmark,” Hawthorne views scientists as individuals whose desire for perfection ultimately drives them into a state of insanity. For example, when Aylmer wishes to remove Georgiana’s birthmark, he finds that the procedure would be impossible without adverse effects. Hawthorne states that he “was so startled with the intense glow of the birthmark upon the whiteness of her cheek that he could not restrain a strong convulsive shudder. His wife fainted” (“The Birthmark” 181). Essentially, Aylmer shivers at the appearance of the birthmark on Georgiana’s cheek. The imperfection seems to startle him as he hopes to cleanse Georgiana of the blemish. Thus, Hawthorne perceives scientists as individuals who are not content with earthly imperfections as they will strive for flawlessness to the point of insanity. When Georgiana dies due to Aylmer’s obsessive nature over the birthmark, Hawthorne demonstrates why scientists are unable to control nature. Aylmer’s insanity and desire for perfection lead to his downfall as Georgiana dies from his concoction. Furthermore, the scientist proclaims, “I feel myself fully competent to render this dear cheek as faultless as its fellow...I shall have corrected what Nature left imperfect in her fairest work” (“The Birthmark” 179). Once again, Aylmer wishes to control nature and remove his wife’s birthmark. Using Aylmer’s character, Hawthorne depicts how scientists are overly infatuated with perfection leading to their demise. While scientists may be obsessive in their work, they attempt to control entities that only nature can manage. They are determined to achieve their goals even if they are physically impossible. Hawthorne exclaims, “Aylmer's sombre imagination was not long in rendering the birthmark a frightful object” (“The Birthmark” 177). Since Aylmer wants to attain perfection in all facets of life, the birthmark is considered frightful. He certainly wishes to manipulate the laws of nature in the name of perfection. Therefore, Hawthorne perceives scientists in a perpetual struggle with nature and its overarching presence on the planet.
Despite Aylmer’s intense desire for perfection, it ultimately cannot be attained.
Additionally, throughout “Rappaccini’s Daughter,” Hawthorne perceives scientists as vile individuals who value experimentation over human life. For example, Rappaccini’s face “could never, even in his more youthful days, have expressed much warmth of heart” (288). Therefore, it can be inferred that Rappaccini does not value human life and has more interest in his own experiments. Scientists certainly show little warmth for humans as Rappaccini poisons his daughter so she can care for his toxic plants. The scientist is not concerned that his daughter is permanently stained with toxins from the garden’s flowers. Hawthorne depicts scientists as cold-hearted individuals who can be characterized as evil and merciless. During “Rappaccini’s Daughter,” a rival scientist named Baglioni states, “he cares infinitely more for science than for mankind. His patients are interesting to him only as subjects for some new experiment” (292). Rappaccini does not see the human aspect of his patients but rather perceives them as test subjects. He is only interested in gaining knowledge regardless of the consequences to human life. Ultimately, experimentation takes precedence over human life in the eyes of scientists. Baglioni is used throughout the story as a medium to convey Hawthorne’s perception of scientists. For example, Baglioni states, “For some purpose or other, this man of science is making a study of you. I know that look of his! It is the same that coldly illuminates his face, as he bends over a bird” (“Rappaccini’s Daughter” 298). Essentially, while Giovanni is walking along the streets of Padua, Rappaccini walks by him and seems to stare into his eyes. Baglioni immediately realizes that Giovanni is a subject of one of Rappaccini’s vile experiments. The scientist does not care whether his subject is a mouse, bird, or human. He will treat all creatures in the same fashion to execute his experiment. Once again, Hawthorne is expressing his views through Baglioni by demonstrating how Rappaccini’s experiments are completely immoral. Hawthorne portrays scientists as wicked and dishonorable individuals who value experimentation over the lives of individuals.
Finally, throughout “Dr.

Heidegger’s Experiment,” Hawthorne regards scientists as individuals who show a remarkable interest in human behavioral patterns. For example, Dr. Heidegger proclaims, “I am desirous of your assistance in one of those little experiments with which I amuse myself here in my study” (160). Since this experiment is being conducted for his amusement, Heidegger is clearly interested in its results. Generally, the doctor wishes to know whether individuals change when given a second chance. He gives the four subjects water from the fountain of youth to see if their behavior changes given a second chance at juvenescence. However, they commit the same imprudent mistakes that they had in their youth. This confirms Heidegger’s notion that people do not change, and Hawthorne is able to depict scientists’ interest in the human mind. The mysterious doctor also states, “Think what a sin and shame it would be, if, with your peculiar advantages, you should not become patterns of virtue and wisdom to all the young people of the age” (“Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” 162). Heidegger’s statements to the four subjects reveal his intentions and the overall nature of the experiment. The doctor is concerned with the behavior and recklessness of youth rather than the medicinal properties found in the water of youth. Essentially, the four subjects are being given an opportunity to return to their youth. They must not make the foolish mistakes that they each made earlier in their lives. Instead, the individuals should become sources of wisdom for younger generations. Hawthorne’s portrayal of Heidegger and his interest in the behaviors of his subjects demonstrates scientists’ love for experimentation. Hawthorne regards scientists as individuals who will carry out experiments to better understand human behavior. He clearly portrays this through Heidegger’s experiment in which the subjects’ behavior is analyzed to determine whether humans will change given a second

chance.
Overall, through the stories of “The Birthmark,” “Rappaccini’s Daughter,” and “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment,” Hawthorne is able to illustrate his view of scientists. Firstly, throughout “The Birthmark” Hawthorne perceives scientists as desirous of perfection and the ability to control nature. Ultimately, this intoxicating desire leads to insanity and Aylmer’s demise as his wife, Georgiana, dies. During “Rappaccini’s Daughter” Hawthorne portrays scientists as cruel individuals who value experimentation over human life. This is clearly exhibited as Rappaccini poisons his daughter so she is able to care for his toxic plants. Finally, throughout “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment,” Hawthorne demonstrates how scientists are immensely interested in human behavioral patterns. Heidegger carries out his experiment to understand whether individuals change given a second chance at youth. Essentially, each work allows Hawthorne to depict scientists in a certain manner. However, in all three short stories, the scientists are unable to overcome nature and its strong grasp on the environment.