In "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the rose symbolizes beauty, youth, and the fleeting nature of life.
When Dr. Heidegger first shows his guests the withered rose, he says, "This rose is not a fresh one; it is dried up, crumbling to dust in my hand...It reminds me of some withered beauty, a relic of old times, which still, nevertheless, possesses some power of attraction..." (paragraph 11). Here, the withered rose is used as a metaphor for the aging process, and how even though beauty fades with time, it can still exert a certain allure.
Later in the story, when the rose is placed in the vase of water from the Fountain of Youth, it regains its youthful beauty and vitality. The narrator notes, "The formerly withered rose now revived, as if by magic,--that dark and dry, yet fragrant, and rosy-cheeked old rose, with a revival of youthful fragrance..." (paragraph 39). This transformation of the rose represents the potential for rejuvenation and the desire for eternal youth, which is a central theme of the story.
In conclusion, the rose in "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment" serves as a powerful symbol of the transience of youth and beauty, as well as the desire to retain them.