Symbolic Interpretations of “The Fall of the House of Usher”
Edgar Allan Poe is well known for his cryptic, gothic tale of “The Fall of the House of Usher.” The narrator arrives at the ghastly house of the Usher family, where his old friends Rodrick, is suffering from a chronic illness. As the story progresses, the narrator as well begins to lose his mind as a result of the cryptic events that occur in the house.
The book is filled deeper symbolic meanings. Everything from the house to the family tree have a deeper interpretation. Edgar Allan Poe does not use any of the modes of persuasion within “The Fall of the House of Usher,” however, he does send a message across to the reader throughout his writing by making ironic and symbolic references …show more content…
The fact that the story is written in first person draws suspense because the reader is almost living in the moment in which the events occur. As the story progresses, the narrator is a step away from reaching insanity (Timmerman).
The House in the story “The Fall of the House of Usher,” is one of the key symbolic references of the story. When the visitor finally sees the mansion, he is terrified by what he sees. The visitor is so terrified, that he looks away from the mansion, just to see its reflection in the water, foreshadowing how the waters at the end of the story will then come over the debris of the collapsed house (Spitzer).
Edgar Allan Poe personifies the mansion. Edgar Allan Poe even describes it as having “eye-like windows (Poe)” At the end of the story, the house gives up its’ soul (Spitzer). The “radiation of darkness” is the soul of the house, which is given up as “a faintly luminous and distinctly visible gaseous exhalation which hung about and enshrouded the mansion …show more content…
At the beginning of the song, the family described is happy and living a glorious life, however, as the song progresses, “evil” begins to present itself. “But evil things, in robes of sorrow, assailed the monarch 's high estate (Poe).” is stating that something evil entered the home of the family. The house and family at the end of the song are living in despair and immense sorrow. The house in the song is correlated with the house of Usher because in the song, the house’s windows are personified as eyes for the reader to sort of see through, allowing the reader to see how the family is changing throughout the song.
Poe’s diction establishes a very gloomy and cryptic mood. Poe used phrase such as “the clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens” and “dull, dark” to describe the weather of the house (Poe). “The clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens” is stating that the sight of the clouds feels like they are so low, that it is harsh and almost intolerable
Edgar Allan Poe is well known for his cryptic, gothic tale of “The Fall of the House of Usher.” The narrator arrives at the ghastly house of the Usher family, where his old friends Rodrick, is suffering from a chronic illness. As the story progresses, the narrator as well begins to lose his mind as a result of the cryptic events that occur in the house.
The book is filled deeper symbolic meanings. Everything from the house to the family tree have a deeper interpretation. Edgar Allan Poe does not use any of the modes of persuasion within “The Fall of the House of Usher,” however, he does send a message across to the reader throughout his writing by making ironic and symbolic references …show more content…
The fact that the story is written in first person draws suspense because the reader is almost living in the moment in which the events occur. As the story progresses, the narrator is a step away from reaching insanity (Timmerman).
The House in the story “The Fall of the House of Usher,” is one of the key symbolic references of the story. When the visitor finally sees the mansion, he is terrified by what he sees. The visitor is so terrified, that he looks away from the mansion, just to see its reflection in the water, foreshadowing how the waters at the end of the story will then come over the debris of the collapsed house (Spitzer).
Edgar Allan Poe personifies the mansion. Edgar Allan Poe even describes it as having “eye-like windows (Poe)” At the end of the story, the house gives up its’ soul (Spitzer). The “radiation of darkness” is the soul of the house, which is given up as “a faintly luminous and distinctly visible gaseous exhalation which hung about and enshrouded the mansion …show more content…
At the beginning of the song, the family described is happy and living a glorious life, however, as the song progresses, “evil” begins to present itself. “But evil things, in robes of sorrow, assailed the monarch 's high estate (Poe).” is stating that something evil entered the home of the family. The house and family at the end of the song are living in despair and immense sorrow. The house in the song is correlated with the house of Usher because in the song, the house’s windows are personified as eyes for the reader to sort of see through, allowing the reader to see how the family is changing throughout the song.
Poe’s diction establishes a very gloomy and cryptic mood. Poe used phrase such as “the clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens” and “dull, dark” to describe the weather of the house (Poe). “The clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens” is stating that the sight of the clouds feels like they are so low, that it is harsh and almost intolerable