We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our cookie policy

Appearance Versus Reality

essay
The whole doc is available only for registered users

A limited time offer! Get a custom sample essay written according to your requirements urgent 3h delivery guaranteed

Order Now

Many people perceive to be, one way, but once the reality is shown others change. In the short story “Young Goodman Brown,” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Goodman Brown has a dream where he meets the townspeople; who try to convert him to the dark side. In “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment,” by Nathaniel Hawthorne Dr. Heidegger gives three people a liquor of youth and the people become young again. When the liquor begins to wear off, the people become greedy wanting more, and not accept the fact that people get old. Both short stories “Young Goodman Brown” and “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment,” reveal that once the reality of a character reality that changes peoples view, and their attitudes.

Goodman Brown’s perception of the townspeople changes when he learns their dark reality. The reality is revealed when Goodman is in the forest and, “Deacon Gookin seized his arms and led him to the blazing rock.” (page 8) This proves to Goodman that although the Deacon is supposed to be a good person of the church, he is not. The Deacon pushed Goodman forward toward the evil figure. After Goodman wakes up from his dream his family went to prayer, “he scowled and muttered to himself, and gazed sternly at his wife, and turned away.” (page 9) Goodman stays true to his belief and decides not to side with the evil. He becomes a bitter, distrusted person, because the townspeople in his wife he thought were good people, but in his dream reality proves that they are evil.

Similarly in “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment”, Dr. Heidegger attitude changes when the guests reveal their greedy reality. “Each fleeting moment snatched away a charm, and left a deepening furrow where none had been before.” (page 5) Dr. Heidegger’s friends are greedy and want more of the elixir, they cannot seem to accept the fact that they are old, and want to stay young forever. Then Dr. Heidegger explains of how, “Such is the lesson ye have taught me!”(page 5) From the reality of the peoples greediness he learns to excepts his own reality and makes him not want to be around them any longer.

In both “Young Goodman Brown”, and “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” the main characters view changes, when others around them reality is revealed. In Young Goodman Brown the people appeared to be good, but in his dream the reality was they were evil, especially the Deacon! After his dream, Goodman began to question even his own wife, and became a bitter, and distrusted man. Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment he concludes that the three people are greedy and want more of the elixir. Dr. Heidegger learns not to become greedy, and accept his own reality; his friends could not accept the fact that they were old after the elixir wore off. Things appear to be one way, especially people, but once the reality is shown of what it is, others opinion changes.

Related Topics

We can write a custom essay

According to Your Specific Requirements

Order an essay
icon
300+
Materials Daily
icon
100,000+ Subjects
2000+ Topics
icon
Free Plagiarism
Checker
icon
All Materials
are Cataloged Well

Sorry, but copying text is forbidden on this website. If you need this or any other sample, we can send it to you via email.

By clicking "SEND", you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. We'll occasionally send you account related and promo emails.
Sorry, but only registered users have full access

How about getting this access
immediately?

Your Answer Is Very Helpful For Us
Thank You A Lot!

logo

Emma Taylor

online

Hi there!
Would you like to get such a paper?
How about getting a customized one?

Can't find What you were Looking for?

Get access to our huge, continuously updated knowledge base

The next update will be in:
14 : 59 : 59