The fall of the House of
Usher
About the author
Edgar Allan Poe
(1809 1849) was an American short story writer novelist poet and literary
critic he is best known for his short stories and poetry. Poe is considered as
master of Mystery and Macabre for his tales and he is also widely regarded as
Central figure of Romanticism.
Notable works
(1) The Black Cat
(2) The Tell - tale heart
(3) The Fall of the House of Usher
(4) The Cask of Amatiado
(5) The Murders in Rue Morge
Poe was one of
the earliest short story writer in American literature and considered as
inventor of detective fiction he was first well known American writer to earn a
living by writing alone and resulted into a financial difficulties in his life.
Introduction
The fall of the
house of Usher is a short story by American writer Edgar Allan Poe, first
published in 1839 in Burton’s Gentleman's magazine later on included into the
collection of short stories called ‘Tales of Grotesque and Arabesque’.
The story
revolves around the Usher family and problems they go through. The fall of the
house of Usher is Gothic fiction that includes theme of Madness, family,
isolation and metaphysical identities.
Summary
The story
begins with the unnamed narrator arriving at house of his friend Roderick
Usher, as he arrived at the Usher’s family house he noticed a thin crack
entering from the roof down the front of the house.
Medeline, Roderick’s
sister who is almost near to death and she and his brother are only remaining
members of Usher family.
The narrator is
impressed by Rodrick’s paintings and try it to cheer him by reading with him
and listening to his music. Roderick Sings the ‘Haunted Palace’ then tells
the narrator that this sentiment raises from the surroundings of his house and
he also believes that his faith is connected with his with Usher family house.
Roderick informs
the narrator that Madeline had has died, and he insist that her body should be
put in family Tomb for two weeks before being permanently buried because he
have fear that her body will be taken for medical studies.
The narrator
helps Roderick to put Madeline’s body into tomb and narrator get to know that
Roderick and his sister are twins, he also notes that Madeline’s body had rosy
chicks which sometimes happen after death. During the next week Roderick and
narrator find themselves very disturbed in the house.
One night a storm
begins out of fear Roderick comes to narrator's bedroom, windows are throwing
by itself because of the storm and Roderick points out that the lake
surroundings the house seems to glow in the dark just shown in Roderick’s
painting but there is no lightning or other source of glow.
The narrator
tries to calm Roderick by reading a novel ‘Mad Trist’ very loudly as the
narrator read the ‘Knights forced entry’ they hear cracking and ripping sounds
from somewhere in house. At first narrator ignore this voice but Roderick
becomes very fearful and he also declares that he has been hearing this sounds
for many days and they are being made by his sister who was actually alive when
put in the family tomb.
The bedroom
door is blown up by Madeline who is bloody because her escape from Tom out of
anger, She tries to attack her brother scaring him to death but she eventually
dies and the narrator than runs from the house and he noticed that a flash of
Moonlight is coming behind himself the narrator also notice that a crack becomes
wider and he watches the house of Usher splits into two fragments and sink away
into the lake.
Conclusion
The fall of the
house of Usher is considered as the best example of Gothic and horror short
story by Edgar Allan Poe.
