I don’t think the people actually turned young. There is a lot of evidence that shows the four old people didn’t change into four young people in there appearance. The people believed that they were young. It says on PG 4 that “ The liquor, if it really possessed such virtues as Dr. Heidegger imputed to it…” This water from the fountain of youth is really champagne. “While he spoke, Dr. Heidegger had been filling the four champagne glasses with the water of the Fountain of Youth (p.3).” The liquor can make people drunk and when you’re drunk you can be happy and energetic. The story also says intoxicating, which is another word for drunk. They are becoming young figuratively and mentally, a feeling of young, a burst of energy of young, but there body isn’t transforming. It also explains the cups had bubbles alcohol has bubbles. The alcohol as many of us know usually doesn’t change physical appearance but rather the thoughts. While Widow Wycherly is looking at herself in the mirror after so many cups of alcohol she starts to see things that aren’t happening. She is imagining being young as she starts to imagine her looks as young women. The author tries to make you think that they turn young but it is all emotional and feelings.

The rose and butterfly gives hints that things turn young again but it is the perception you look at it. The rose is very dead but with the Fountain of youth it is alive and very red with life. When flowers are dry and get liquid, they suck all the liquid into the flower as possible. The liquid gives flower life not potions. Dr. Heidegger’s magic book suggests that it is magic but all the people that died and he killed or brought to life are natural potions nothing fake, just experiments. The rose is a matter of dehydration and getting liquid of life. Also the butterfly is the same, it is tired or dehydrated and once it gets some liquid and sugar it gets the energy to fly again. The 4 people don’t turn young people don’t change. The Fountain of youth just shows Dr. Heidegger seeing if the experiment will work and if he should do it. They all are old and have had bad lives and the doctor is trying to give a second chance but the champagne lasts for only a little and only affects the mind. Therefore the alcohol or Fountain of Youth doesn’t change the physical appearance and make them young.