“Dr. Heidegger's Experiment” by Nathaniel Hawthorne depicts elements and themes of Dark Romanticism. Decay is a very common element throughout the story. One of the examples of decay is the characters. They resemble decay as even after they are given youth they throw it away. Another example of decay is the rose. The rose resembles decay as the once beautiful rose has now turned sour. The rose is now crumbling and weak from its age. The last example of decay was the butterfly, once full of life has now started to shrivel up from age. In fact the butterfly was barely alive. Once the fountains water has lost its effect the butterfly will return into its decrepit state. Decay is a common part of “Dr.Heidegger’s Experiment” by Nathaniel Hawthorne