Hawthorne’s Literary Devices Hawthorne’s artistically crafted works are a literary standard in modern America. He brilliantly uses many thematic elements and literary devices that set his work apart from other authors of his time. For example, he uses a common theme of human faults as the moral of the story, or a tragic ending to convey his intended message. By using similar thematic elements in his stories, Hawthorne creates an atmosphere of intrigue and stylistic symbolism. In “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” and “The Birthmark” Hawthorne symbolizes human imperfections and tragic endings to impart morals. An essential part of Hawthorne's writing style is his application of human fault as a central theme. In Hawthorne’s pieces he writes about
…show more content…
At a first glance, the fault is seen as a birthmark, an imperfection that draws away from the wife’s beauty; however, on closer inspection, the fault, in fact, is not the blemish but rather the scientist’s obsession. The scientist gets increasingly frustrated over such a small thing to the point where he eventually kills his wife. Hawthorne uses this as a way to display the flaw of obsession and the moral of its destructive capacity. Similarly in Hawthorne’s Dr. Heidegger's Experiment, Hawthorne uses human shortcomings, but this time the flaw is not of the scientist but rather his subjects. He pens, “Mr. Gascoigne's mind seemed to run on political topics... now he muttered some perilous stuff or other, in a sly and doubtful whisper...ringing his glass in symphony with the chorus, while his eyes wandered toward the buxom figure of the Widow Wycherly...Mr. Medbourne was involved in a calculation of dollars and cents...As for the Widow Wycherly, she stood before the mirror courtesying and simpering to her own …show more content…
The momentary circumstance was too strong for him; he failed to look beyond the shadowy scope of time, and, living once for all in eternity, to find the perfect future in the present,” (19). Hawthorne creates a lamentable death that corresponds with the theme of the story - a scientist’s imperfect desire leading to his own ruin. This also shows how Hawthorne’s type of death is unique. Though the death is a tragedy, his obsession which caused the death is the true horror. Comparably, in “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” the story ends with catastrophe. This time his friends grow old once more after drinking the fountain of youth: “"Yes, friends, ye are old again," said Dr. Heidegger, "and lo! the Water of Youth is all lavished on the ground. Well--I bemoan it not; for if the fountain gushed at my very doorstep, I would not stoop to bathe my lips in it--no, though its delirium were for years instead of moments. Such is the lesson ye have taught me!" But the doctor's four friends had taught no such lesson to themselves. They resolved forthwith to make a pilgrimage to Florida, and quaff at morning, noon, and night, from the Fountain of
At a first glance, the fault is seen as a birthmark, an imperfection that draws away from the wife’s beauty; however, on closer inspection, the fault, in fact, is not the blemish but rather the scientist’s obsession. The scientist gets increasingly frustrated over such a small thing to the point where he eventually kills his wife. Hawthorne uses this as a way to display the flaw of obsession and the moral of its destructive capacity. Similarly in Hawthorne’s Dr. Heidegger's Experiment, Hawthorne uses human shortcomings, but this time the flaw is not of the scientist but rather his subjects. He pens, “Mr. Gascoigne's mind seemed to run on political topics... now he muttered some perilous stuff or other, in a sly and doubtful whisper...ringing his glass in symphony with the chorus, while his eyes wandered toward the buxom figure of the Widow Wycherly...Mr. Medbourne was involved in a calculation of dollars and cents...As for the Widow Wycherly, she stood before the mirror courtesying and simpering to her own …show more content…
The momentary circumstance was too strong for him; he failed to look beyond the shadowy scope of time, and, living once for all in eternity, to find the perfect future in the present,” (19). Hawthorne creates a lamentable death that corresponds with the theme of the story - a scientist’s imperfect desire leading to his own ruin. This also shows how Hawthorne’s type of death is unique. Though the death is a tragedy, his obsession which caused the death is the true horror. Comparably, in “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” the story ends with catastrophe. This time his friends grow old once more after drinking the fountain of youth: “"Yes, friends, ye are old again," said Dr. Heidegger, "and lo! the Water of Youth is all lavished on the ground. Well--I bemoan it not; for if the fountain gushed at my very doorstep, I would not stoop to bathe my lips in it--no, though its delirium were for years instead of moments. Such is the lesson ye have taught me!" But the doctor's four friends had taught no such lesson to themselves. They resolved forthwith to make a pilgrimage to Florida, and quaff at morning, noon, and night, from the Fountain of