In “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allen Poe, there are three characters: the narrator, Roderic Usher, and his sister Madeline. But what about the house itself? The house seems to be alive in some sentient sense and could be behind anything supernatural that may have occurred. I theorize that decades of incest between family members and having to see it all made the house wish for the sweet release of death. The house cannot die though, because death meant collapse of itself and all inside. The house did not want to bring harm to the inhabitants, so it would have to wait until the Ushers either died on their own or left. The diseases and disorders given to the Usher siblings from decades of incest doubling genes to give them horrible These show the house’s pain and how much it wanted to die, so much that it gives off a depressing feeling, a feeling that is felt by the narrator. Since the house was alive it would give off noises from time to time, but only small sounds not too noticeable. But when coupled with Rodericks acute hearing from his illness, Roderick believe the house to be haunted. His superstition made him believe that there were strange forces at work that formed the base of his family mansion and all that is in it that had affected his morale. If only he knew how right he was. Although he mentioned hesitantly that it could just be his illness getting the best of him because he hated the thought of losing his sister. Roderick believed that it "would leave him the last of the ancient race of the Ushers."(Poe p13), which was a relieving but sad thought to the house. Soon after Madeline is believed to be dead. Roderick is crushed on the inside but silent on the outside and the house while sad for her end, was happy to be closer to its own. Roderick spends the next several days with the narrator surrounded by art and music. Soon Roderick informs the narrator of Madeline’s demise and plans to stash her body in the family vaults. The reason being her illness, with it being so unique, doctors would come from all over to study the body and had no immediate place for burial. The narrator follows his plan and they bring her down to the vaults and store her in a coffin behind a heavy iron door. The house is silent through the entire event and only takes notice of something after the vault is sealed. Soon after they leave the house realizes that Madeleine is still alive and panics. The house had no way to tell Roderick and the narrator that she was alive. Madeline somehow makes it out of the coffin and tries to dig her
Roderick and the fall of the house of usher have a deceiving appearance. Poe introduces “In this was much that reminded me of the specious totality of woodwork which has rotted for long years in some neglected vault with no disturbance from the breath of the external air” (312). After meeting Roderick and going inside the house, which appear to be normal, it is revealed that the interior is deteriorated. This home is void of others existence, excepting Roderick and Lady Madeleine. He has “A cadaverous of complexion, an eye large,liquid and luminous beyond comparison, lips somewhat thin and very pallid.” (363). It appears to the readers that Roderick has lost his soul due to his ghostly appearance. His illness has taken a toll on his outward appearance.”The ‘House Of Usher’ an appellation which seemed to include… both the family and the family mansion” (311). The house of usher reflects what is going on within the family. Craziness and neglection engulf Roderick’s as much the house. Roderick’s mental illness and the house are
In “Fall of the House of Usher”, the setting takes place at the house of Usher, whose friend, the main character, comes to visit because Usher is dying. He travels through the house, visiting the family members and sees the house is in a serious state of disrepair. A theory on the story
In the letter Roderick asks him to come and see him in his house; for he is not feeling well. The narrator recalls childhood memories that remind him of the good times they shared together. He decides to accept the invitation and heads to the Usher house. The narrator then comments on the haunted like atmosphere, surroundings, and the house itself. He perceives that Roderick has changed.
Along with being an excellent potrail of suspense the ''dull, dark and soundless...decaying house'' also substitutes as a symbol of Roderick Usher's family legacy slowly vanishing as he shall too. Though the house of Usher could contain multiple symbols on its exterior alone, the lands as well contain hidden meanings such as the ''ghastly river...moat'' that surrounds the grounds. this gives off the hidden idea that much like Roderick, the narrator is trapped within deceiving and oppressive walls of the house of Usher. The house has become a beacon of symbolism as even in the final scene the house sinks into ''black and lurid tarn'' symbolizing that much like Roderick Usher, and the Usher legacy, the house shall become nothing more than a memory. Poe uses these symbols as to show the reader the severity of Roderick Usher's situations before Poe even introduces him.
“The Fall of The House of Usher” by Edger Allen Poe starts with the Narrator on horseback riding through what seems to be a gloomy, cloudy day. The narrator observes that the house seems to have absorbed an evil and diseased atmosphere from the decaying trees and murky ponds around it. He notes that although the house is decaying in places, for example some of the stones are gone, however the structure itself is relatively solid. The narrator notices that the inside of the house just as spooky as the outside. He seems to be getting a bad feeling about the place. When he finally sees Roderick he notes that Roderick is paler and less energetic than he once was. His friend had sent for him to come and see him because he was his only friend since childhood. The narrator says that they aren’t as close as they once were. Roderick tells the narrator that he suffers from nerves and that his senses are heightened and that he seems afraid of his own house. The narrator spends several days trying to cheer up Roderick. He listens to Roderick play the guitar. The Narrator also reads him stories, but is unsuccessful in cheering his friend up. Then Roderick suggests that is actually may be the house that is causing him to be sick. Next when Madeline, Roderick’s twin, dies his friend wants to keep her body with him because he was afraid that doctors would try and use is for scientific purposes. So the narrator and Roderick dig up the body and put it in the house. A few nights later the narrator meets Roderick and he tells the narrator that he thinks Madeline was buried alive. Moments later Madeline appears and then dies along with Roderick who died of fear. The narrator then jumps out of the house as its crumbling to the ground.
The Three Unique Characters of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher
In “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe, the death of Madeline and Roderick Usher represents the ending of something, and in this specific case, the ending of a generation. Throughout the story, it is made very clear that Madeline and Roderick are the last living people of the Usher generation. Roderick Usher explicitly states on page four, “‘Her decease,’ he said, with a bitterness which I can never forget, ‘would leave him (him the hopeless and the frail) the last of the ancient race of the Ushers.’” Therefore, when they both die at the end, it is clear that it is the end of a generation. The ending of their generation creates a depressing and serious feeling through this story due to the fact that the Usher’s will be no more.
One of the central themes underlying the short story, The Fall of the House of Usher, is that of the nature of the house. The way it is described and the way it is so mysterious. Another central theme about this story is the nature of the people that live in the house. They are portrayed very much in the same manner throughout the story. Thus, they have several similarities with each other. All of which are of a bad feeling, showing how bad things are for the people and the house. These similarities are very well laid out in the story and are, I believe, meant to be something to be considered when reading it.
The narrator in "the House of Usher" was actually the friend of the main character of the story, Roderick Usher, who lived with his sister in the house and both had mental sicknesses that had ultimately led to their deaths. While the house was not actually haunted, as horror stories usually are made up of, there was a permeating sense of decay about the building that continued up to the two owners of the house, with their depression and gloom, and the sister's ability to withdraw in a catatonic state that would make anyone unaware of the condition conclude that the person had died. The house, which was the setting of the story, was not bathed in light or warmth; it was either always dark, or gloomy, "melancholy" was the word frequently used; and the reference to the crack in the wall was to show that it was on its way to destruction; all it needed wa...
Edgar Allan Poe was a gothic writer living in the early 1800’s. Poe had a very hard and tough life and in his stories you could see what a troubled man he was. He set the path for writers today. Literature would not be the same without Poe’s influence. Most of his stories are gory and relate to death as in The Fall of the House of Usher and The Raven. They are some of Poe’s best works. Poe uses gothic elements within “The Fall of the House of Usher,” and “The Raven” to portray the dark side of human nature.
He describes his superstition one night, "I endeavored to believe that much, if not all of what I felt, was due to the phantasmagoric influence of the gloomy furniture of the room…" (1468). Hence, Poe makes use of the house to create a supernatural effect. Likewise, Poe describes the house to create a terrifying effect. "The Fall of the House of Usher" is a horror story. In order to develop a mood to get the reader frightened, Poe must portray the setting of the story. The house is described initially by the narrator, who sees the image of the house as a skull or death’s head looming out of the dead. He is not sure what to think and comments of the properties of the old house: "What was it, I paused to think, what was it that so unnerved me in the contemplation of the house of Usher?
One of the first things to note is how the house is used to represent the state of Roderick’s mind and physical appearance. The house is in disrepair and has a sinister feel to it. This is what the narrator saw and felt when he was reunited with his old friend. He felt the chill run down his spine as if something was wrong. He could sense fear in the air. Also, Roderick feels trapped inside his own house, as he is trapped inside his own mind. His mind, like the house, is...
In the story “The Fall of the House of Usher”, Poe presents the history of the end of an illustrious family. As with many of Poe’s stories, setting and mood contribute greatly to the overall tale. Poe’s descriptions of the house itself as well as the inhabitants thereof invoke in the reader a feeling of gloom and terror. This can best be seen first by considering Poe’s description of the house and then comparing it to his description of its inhabitants, Roderick and Madeline Usher.
In the story, Poe utilized the idea of Romanticism. The basic idea was that the uncultivated were more “natural” and “authentic” than the educated whose style was now considered “artificial” and “affected” (Youngstown State University). To be exact, the characteristic of Romanticism was it banned the rational and intellectual works, and embraced the intuitive and the emotional. Moreover, both Gothic literature and Romantic literature resisted the idea that science can “explain everything” (C. Vogt). Poe’s story, “The Fall of The House of Usher,” highlighted the characteristics of the Romantic period when he wrote it. The genre of the story could be titled as Dark Romanticism or the Gothic Tale. Importantly, the story attributed the main idea of the Romanticism, “mysterious event cannot be explained” or “vagueness.” This event was well illustrated in the end of the story just after the Usher twins, Roderick and Madeline, fell on the ground and were death, the House of The Usher was broken apart into pieces from its zigzag fissure as, “… the fissure rapidly widened… I saw the mighty walls rushing asunder…” and “… dark tarn at my feet closed sullenly and silently over the fragments of the ‘House of Usher’ ” (Poe, Edgar). In addition, the story particular had the Romantic literature setting of place and place as well. Most of the Romantic or Gothic tales were set up in certain places,
The Fall of The House of Usher is an eerie, imaginative story. The reader is captured by the twisted reality. Many things in the story are unclear to the reader; but no less interesting. For instance, even the conclusion of the story lends it self to argument. Did the house of Usher truly "fall"? Or, is this event simply symbolism? In either case, it makes a dramatic conclusion. Also dramatic is the development of the actual house. It seems to take on a life of its own. The house is painted with mystery. The narrator himself comments on the discerning properties of the aged house; "What was it, I paused to think, what was it that so unnerved me in the contemplation of the house of Usher" (54)? The house is further developed in the narrator's references to the house. "...In this mansion of gloom" (55). Even the surroundings serve the purpose. The narrator describes the landscape surrounding as having, "... an atmosphere which had no affinity with the air of heaven, but which had reeked up from the decayed trees, and the gray wall, and the silent tarn a pestilent and mystic vapor, dull, sluggish, faintly discernible, and leaden hued" (55). This fantastic imagery sets the mood of the twisted events. Roderick Usher complements the forbidding surroundings terrifically. His temperament is declining and he seems incessantly agitated and nervous. And, as it turns out, Roderick's fears are valid. For soon enough, before his weakening eyes, stands the Lady Madeline of Usher. This shocking twist in the story is developed through the book that the narrator is reading. The last line that he reads is, "Madman! I tell you that she now stands without the door" (66)! Without suspecting such an event, the reader soon finds Lady Madeline actually standing at the door. She is described as having, "...blood on her white robes, and the evidence of some bitter struggle upon every portion of her emaciated frame" (66). This line not only induces terror but invites debate. Upon seeing the woman the reader has to consider the cause of her death.