Nathaniel Hawthorne is an author whose major works of fiction greatly influenced the literary world during the 19th century. His work during the Romantic period represents his view of the world through a specific writing style. Although his literature has a particularly dark tone, his short stories show a variety of symbols, themes, and characters. "The Minister's Black Veil," "The Birthmark," and "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment" are three of Hawthorne's short stories that illustrate the similar and different nuances of tone and meaning observed in his writings. A common theme found in these three short stories is experimentation. In each of the stories' plots, there is an experiment of some sort undertaken to improve the human condition. The most obvious of these is the experiment found in "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment." Dr. Heidegger is an elderly doctor who reunites four old friends. Three are "white-bearded gentlemen, Mr. Medbourne, Colonel Killigrew, and Mr. Gascoigne" (Hawthorne, "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment" 12), and the other is "a withered lady, whose name [is] the Widow Wycherly.” (Hawthorne, “The Experiment of Dr. Heidegger” 12). Dr. Heidegger calls them to his house to try an experiment on them. He first shows the group of elderly people a concoction he has and then pours it over an old dried rose his former lover gave him. Soon the flower returns to its former color and restores its previously vibrant qualities. The four elderly friends beg to try the mixture and soon they are back in their prime. At one time, many years ago, the three gentlemen were each in love with Wycherly. After taking the mixture and becoming young again, the men return to their fight for the widow...... middle of paper...... stories that represent the similar and different elements found in her writings. WORKS CITED Gorman, Herbert Sherman. "Hawthorn on Solitude" The Introduction to Bedford Literature. Ed. Michael Meyer. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2005. 15-16. Print.Hawthorn, Nathaniel. "Dr. Heidegger's experiment." Bedford's Introduction to Literature. Ed. Michael Meyer. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2005. 12-15. Print. Hawthorn, Nathaniel. “The birthmark.” Bedford's Introduction to Literature. Ed. Michael Meyer Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2005. 5-12. Hawthorn, Nathaniel. “The minister’s black veil. » Bedford's Introduction to Literature Boston: Bedford/St Martin's. -5. Print.Walsh, Conor. “Aminadab in THE BIRTH-MARK” by Nathaniel Hawthorne. "Explanator 67.4 (2009): 258-260. Web.. 2012.