What is the single effect in the fall of the House of Usher?
The crack in the house, the “cracked” state of Roderick’s mind, to the horrible sounds coming from downstairs, the final appearance and death of both Madeline and Roderick and finally the disintegration of the house all contribute to that single effect.
Why does the narrator start when Roderick Usher mentions?
Why does the narrator “start” when Roderick Usher mentions “the gradual yet certain condensation of an atmosphere… about the waters and the walls” of the House of Usher? The narrator himself felt such an atmosphere when he approached the estate.
How does the narrator change in Fall of the House of Usher?
When the narrator and Roderick place Madeline in a tomb following her death, Roderick’s mental state seems to slip into madness. He sits focused on things that are unseen. He mouths indecipherable words. And he becomes convinced that he and the narrator have buried Madeline alive.
Is the narrator trustworthy in The Fall of the House of Usher?
He couldn’t be so reliable if he can so easily ignore the obvious possibility that she was still alive. He does not tell his unseen audience that he felt responsible. He does not even deny the responsibility by rationalizing it.
What is ironic about the narrator role in the fall of the House of Usher?
The narrator’s role is primarily ironic in his relation to the psychic tumult observed. That is to say, when the story opens, the narrator speaks of the gloom and oppression the House of Usher brings into his spirit. It is about him, and seems to be concerning, even obsessing him.
Why is the narrator not named in the Fall of the House of Usher?
The writer, Edgar Allen Poe, chose to purposely not give the narrator a name. This gives the narrator credibility in his meeting with Roderick and the events leading to the downfall of the family name. He can account for how he knew Roderick as a boy and how he has changed so many years later.