Fall of House of Usher

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The Fall of the House of Usher In the short story “Fall of the House of Usher,” isolation has conquered the Usher family’s genealogy. Roderick and Madeline Usher have been born into a family who have been secluded from society for many years. This extreme amount of loneliness and solitude has forced the Usher family to forming their own supernatural bond with each other. This bond is inconceivable to any outsider. Isolation has had a negative impact on each character in their own distinctive way throughout the course of the short story. Society has isolated Roderick for his entire life. When Roderick was a child, he was accompanied by no one except the narrator, who also was secretive towards him. Edgar Allan Poe wrote, “Although, as boys, we had been even intimate associates, yet I really knew little of my friend. His reserve had been always excessive and habitual.” This allows the the reader to understand that even his “so-called” friend was not open and trustworthy with him. Confinement and isolation has consumed the Usher ancestry line for centuries. Roderick belongs to an ancient family who has never put forth “an enduring branch” (Poe). This explains why Usher and Madeline are self consumed, rather than cordial and sociable. Roderick’s lack of communication with the outside world forces him to lose all sanity and become mad. Usher became insane throughout the course of the story, due to his self consumption and complete isolation. No contact with society has taken a drastic toll on him. The Usher’s constant confinement affects them in ways that are almost inconceivable. The sister, Madeline Usher, is also affected by isolation throughout the course of her life. Madeline was trapped in the house with her brother Roderick for most of their lives. The brother and sister have no other friends and family, thus they are confined in the house. Poe illustrates

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