Fall of Usher Themes

Insanity or Symbolism?

Edgar Allan Poe's “The Fall of the House of Usher” takes the reader into the house of Roderick Usher, a sickly old man living isolated in his house. As the story progresses, the theme of a cursed estate is developed, hinting that Roderick, his sister, and the house are all connected to each other. H. P. Lovecraft points out an “abnormally linked trinity of entities” - Roderick, his sister, and the house, all “sharing a soul.” I believe that his interpretation of the story makes sense.

From the beginning of the story, the house of Usher and everything inside and around it is described as dark, dismal, or otherworldly; as if everything related to the house of Usher has a dark aura. Upon arriving at the house, the narrator notices a crack in the wall of the house. This crack could symbolize the divide forming between Roderick and his sister. Throughout the story, the gap between the two grows larger and larger, eventually causing them to collapse along with the house at the end of the story.

Another example of symbolism within the story is the theme of decay and disrepair. The narrator describes the house as decaying and with a sort of dark aura about it. I believe this could symbolize Roderick Usher and his sister, Madeline. He is a decaying old man isolated from the world and his sister is gravely ill, much like his house is.

Towards the end of the story, Madeline ends up dying from her illness and is buried inside the tombs under the house – only to rise from the dead and attack Roderick. I believe his sister could represent Roderick's paranoia and that the house represents his his body. This could explain why the house collapses when he dies from fear.