Answer :
Answer:
"Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment" by Nathaniel Hawthorne critically explores the human yearning for youth and the inevitable folly of trying to recapture it. Dr. Heidegger, a wise yet enigmatic figure, invites four elderly friends to drink from the fabled Fountain of Youth. Their brief transformation into their younger selves reveals their unchanged natures and the persistence of their past flaws. Through rich allegory and gothic elements, Hawthorne critiques the pursuit of eternal youth, highlighting the importance of accepting life’s natural progression and the wisdom that comes with it. The story serves as a timeless reminder of the futility in resisting the march of time.