Fall of the House of Usher Relationship Essay
The narrator is a very altruistic character in “The Fall of the House of Usher”. He sincerely cares about Rodrick, even though his friend is slightly mentally insane, which creates a very complex relationship between the souls. Although the narrator initially intends to save Roderick from his own demise, he was forced to reject Rodrick as Mr. Usher was the source of his own torment.
The narrator originally earnestly desires to go to Rodrick’s house. In the text, the narrator talks of Rodrick as having “an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady...” (Poe 1). The narrator uses the words “desire”, “cheerfulness”, and “friend” to describe how Rodrick contacts him. The word choice that the narrator uses can be grouped together as “happy” words, just like in a usual relationship. The happiness proves that the narrator still believes that him and Rodrick are friends, even though he has not met Rodrick in years and that he wants to save Mr. Usher from his own demise. However, Rodrick quickly forces the narrator to lose his aura of happiness.
Rodrick unnerves the narrator throughout the text to the point where the narrator gave up on Rodrick, which is apparent through the use of disheartening words. In the text, the narrator describes Rodrick as having “A cadaverousness of complexion ; an eye large, liquid, and luminous beyond comparison...” (Poe 2). The usage of the word “cadaverousness” alludes to death, and the usage of “luminous” makes Mr. Usher seem mysterious. Mysteriousness and death are common words to portray someone beyond repair. By using this kind of wording, Poe is revealing the narrator is disgusted by the new Rodrick. The disgust leads the narrator to rejection.
The narrator is rejecting of Rodrick. In the text, the narrator states “His action was alternately vivacious and sullen. His voice varied rapidly from a tremulous
The narrator originally earnestly desires to go to Rodrick’s house. In the text, the narrator talks of Rodrick as having “an earnest desire to see me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with a view of attempting, by the cheerfulness of my society, some alleviation of his malady...” (Poe 1). The narrator uses the words “desire”, “cheerfulness”, and “friend” to describe how Rodrick contacts him. The word choice that the narrator uses can be grouped together as “happy” words, just like in a usual relationship. The happiness proves that the narrator still believes that him and Rodrick are friends, even though he has not met Rodrick in years and that he wants to save Mr. Usher from his own demise. However, Rodrick quickly forces the narrator to lose his aura of happiness.
Rodrick unnerves the narrator throughout the text to the point where the narrator gave up on Rodrick, which is apparent through the use of disheartening words. In the text, the narrator describes Rodrick as having “A cadaverousness of complexion ; an eye large, liquid, and luminous beyond comparison...” (Poe 2). The usage of the word “cadaverousness” alludes to death, and the usage of “luminous” makes Mr. Usher seem mysterious. Mysteriousness and death are common words to portray someone beyond repair. By using this kind of wording, Poe is revealing the narrator is disgusted by the new Rodrick. The disgust leads the narrator to rejection.
The narrator is rejecting of Rodrick. In the text, the narrator states “His action was alternately vivacious and sullen. His voice varied rapidly from a tremulous
Cited: "The Fall of the House of Usher." By Edgar Allan Poe. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2012. .