Question

Which of these sentences highlights Widow Wycherly’s vanity in Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story "Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment"? A) As for the Widow Wycherly, tradition tells us that she was a great beauty in her day; but, for a long while past, she had lived in deep seclusion, on account of certain scandalous stories which had prejudiced the gentry of the town against her. B) The Widow Wycherly—if so fresh a damsel could be called a widow—tripped up to the doctor's chair, with a mischievous merriment in her rosy face. C) She stood before the mirror courtesying and simpering to her own image, and greeting it as the friend whom she loved better than all the world beside. D) Blushing, panting, struggling, chiding, laughing, her warm breath fanning each of their faces by turns, she strove to disengage herself, yet still remained in their triple embrace.

Answer 1

Answer:

• C) She stood before the mirror courtesying and simpering to her own image, and greeting it as the friend whom she loved better than all the world beside.

Explanation:

the sentence depicts Widow Wycherly's vanity, especially her fixation on her appearance. Vanity is characterized to be simply the excessively narcissistic appreciation.

Answer 2

I believe it would be C) She stood before the mirror courtesying and simpering to her own image, and greeting it as the friend whom she loved better than all the world beside.