Isolation Of Usher

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Recommended: Literary analysis of the Fall of the House of Usher

“Solitude vivifies; isolation kills” Joseph Roux. That is exactly what happened to Roderick Usher, his isolation killed him. The story is set in the Usher family’s old isolated run down home, Roderick Usher finds himself surrounded by a phenomenon which distorted his perception of reality. Roderick could not properly develop throughout childhood due to his state of seclusion, which eventually drives him mad along with all the pent up fear he has. Roderick calls on his long lost friend who he has not seen since childhood to help him deal with his emotions. Edgar Allan Poe demonstrates imagery, setting, and symbolism throughout “The Fall of The House of Usher” help explain the theme that fear and isolation lead to madness, and human interaction …show more content…

Many people mistake the house for the family as if they are the same. There is a crack in the house that is “barely perceptible… which… made its way down the wall in a zigzag direction” (Poe 312). The crack in the house symbolizes all the madness concealed inside Roderick Usher and the brokenness of the family. This displays the fact that something is wrong within this family and they are slowly falling apart. They are dying one after another until there is no longer a living member of the Usher family and the house will then crumble as well. Usher contacts his childhood friend for assistance because he foresees the fall of the house. Poe’s description of the “gray sedge, and the ghastly tree-stems, and the vacant and eye-like windows” (Poe 310) further explain the relationship between the house and Roderick Usher. The author uses every detail of the house, the yellow banners, the pearl and ruby door, and the windows to symbolize Usher’s body parts. Poe does this in order to emphasize the relationship everyone sees between Usher and the house. These uses of symbolism further develop the idea that isolation leads to …show more content…

Usher’s own fears drove him insane because he has never experienced the real world and what it has to offer. The only way to properly develop mentally is to connect with the outside world and see how it is comprehended. Since Roderick did not have this proper perception throughout his life, he drove himself insane and ultimately killed himself with his overwhelming

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