The Fall of a Family
In Edgar Allen Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher, Roderick Usher is reminded of life’s simple enjoyments during a visit with a childhood friend; Roderick realizes the emptiness in his life and his regrettable past. This realization preys heavily on Roderick’s already sickened mind and drives him into a deeper depression. He develops an increasing hatred for his sister Madeline, whose chronic physical illnesses and infertility, becomes, in his mind, the reason for the “fall” of his family. He lives with a constant, daily reminder of the conclusion of his royal bloodline by watching the family mansion deteriorate. It is Roderick’s resolve, that Madeline alone, bears the responsibility of this horrible death and it is …show more content…
They are “sole” companions for “long years- his last and only relative on earth.” They are husband and wife; however, the story never declares this fact. This conclusion is easily derived given Roderick’s “many passionate tears” (Baym, Nina 706) and the Usher family tree. Due to many generations of incest, Madeline wasn’t able to have or carry children. During the earlier years of their relationship, this seemed unimportant. As Roderick aged, the notion of never having children (and as a result ending the Usher heritage) depressed, enraged and eventually consumed him. Roderick sings to the narrator a song called “The Haunted Palace” (Baym, Nina 707-708). In this ballad, Roderick sings about the Usher mansion and how beautiful the “palace” was in past years. He croons of singing troops, meaning children singing melodies; spirits dancing, meaning joyful dancing and frolicking. The song talks of vibrant colored banners flying, happiness and sunshine abound. Roderick is haunted by these memories and his family’s history; he feels pressure from his ancestors to carry on the family bloodline. He realizes that since he and Madeline have no children the “fall” of the Usher name will end with them. These ideas are driving Roderick further into an unstable mental state; eventually, Roderick goes …show more content…
The narrator began reading a story to help ease the tension and lighten the mood. During pivotal moments in the book, sounds were heard in remote areas of house; sounds that coincided with the events of the book reading. A gust of wind, and an opening door revealed that Madeline was still alive. Madeline was exhausted from her resurrection; blood streaked the front of her robes, probably from clawing at the stone above her. She was in the crypt for seven or eight days and was dehydrated, malnourished and going through opium withdrawal symptoms. She was crazed with fury toward her brother for she knew he put her there and that he could “hear” her calling him; she knew he could save her and that he chose to ignore her cries. With every ounce of tenacity and life left in her, Madeline hurdled herself onto Roderick. In terror, Roderick had a heart attack; and Madeline from the exhaustion, both landed onto the floor, dead. The narrator, who witnessed all of this, ran from the house. Just as he reached a safe distance he turned around in time to see the house crumbling into the tarn. The three remaining Ushers: Roderick, Madeline and the House, all met their final end together, as one could not stand without the other
In Edgar Allen Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher, Roderick Usher is reminded of life’s simple enjoyments during a visit with a childhood friend; Roderick realizes the emptiness in his life and his regrettable past. This realization preys heavily on Roderick’s already sickened mind and drives him into a deeper depression. He develops an increasing hatred for his sister Madeline, whose chronic physical illnesses and infertility, becomes, in his mind, the reason for the “fall” of his family. He lives with a constant, daily reminder of the conclusion of his royal bloodline by watching the family mansion deteriorate. It is Roderick’s resolve, that Madeline alone, bears the responsibility of this horrible death and it is …show more content…
They are “sole” companions for “long years- his last and only relative on earth.” They are husband and wife; however, the story never declares this fact. This conclusion is easily derived given Roderick’s “many passionate tears” (Baym, Nina 706) and the Usher family tree. Due to many generations of incest, Madeline wasn’t able to have or carry children. During the earlier years of their relationship, this seemed unimportant. As Roderick aged, the notion of never having children (and as a result ending the Usher heritage) depressed, enraged and eventually consumed him. Roderick sings to the narrator a song called “The Haunted Palace” (Baym, Nina 707-708). In this ballad, Roderick sings about the Usher mansion and how beautiful the “palace” was in past years. He croons of singing troops, meaning children singing melodies; spirits dancing, meaning joyful dancing and frolicking. The song talks of vibrant colored banners flying, happiness and sunshine abound. Roderick is haunted by these memories and his family’s history; he feels pressure from his ancestors to carry on the family bloodline. He realizes that since he and Madeline have no children the “fall” of the Usher name will end with them. These ideas are driving Roderick further into an unstable mental state; eventually, Roderick goes …show more content…
The narrator began reading a story to help ease the tension and lighten the mood. During pivotal moments in the book, sounds were heard in remote areas of house; sounds that coincided with the events of the book reading. A gust of wind, and an opening door revealed that Madeline was still alive. Madeline was exhausted from her resurrection; blood streaked the front of her robes, probably from clawing at the stone above her. She was in the crypt for seven or eight days and was dehydrated, malnourished and going through opium withdrawal symptoms. She was crazed with fury toward her brother for she knew he put her there and that he could “hear” her calling him; she knew he could save her and that he chose to ignore her cries. With every ounce of tenacity and life left in her, Madeline hurdled herself onto Roderick. In terror, Roderick had a heart attack; and Madeline from the exhaustion, both landed onto the floor, dead. The narrator, who witnessed all of this, ran from the house. Just as he reached a safe distance he turned around in time to see the house crumbling into the tarn. The three remaining Ushers: Roderick, Madeline and the House, all met their final end together, as one could not stand without the other