In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment, one notable example of a metaphor is the description of the rose that Dr. Heidegger gives to his guests. The rose, which had withered decades ago, is restored to its original beauty when placed in the water from the Fountain of Youth. Hawthorne writes:
“The crushed and dried petals stirred, and assumed a deepening tinge of crimson, as if the flower were reviving from a deathlike slumber.”
This metaphor compares the rose’s revival to a person waking from a deep sleep, symbolizing the rejuvenation and renewal that the characters hope to experience through the experiment. The rose serves as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of youth and beauty, as well as the potential for second chances.