Characters and Setting of the Fall of the House of UsherThe main objective of "The Fall of the House of Usher" is to give the reader a feeling of 'horror. . Through the creation of elaborate imagery and bleak circumstances, Poe conveys a story that arouses in the reader the dark feelings he hoped for. In this analysis, I will focus on Poe's characters and setting, as well as how he structures them to produce the overall effect. The story begins with a description of our narrator's first impressions of the House of Usher. He was summoned there to bring comfort to his childhood friend. The friend in question, Roderick Usher, is an eccentric character whom the narrator has not seen in a long time. The reason for his visit is so that he, Usher's only friend, can offer him some companionship that will ease Usher's lonely and troubled mind. The setting of this story takes place in what is called the Usher House. The house is reminiscent of a sovereign madhouse. The family that has lived in the house for many years is described by Poe as having a stem without branches (p. 665). The events that have occurred over the years of this family's incessant and peculiar behavior give the house a life of its own that tells a strange story. In the particular passage we have chosen, the narrator describes the feeling of seeing the house: “It was a totally insoluble mystery. » (p.654) The mystery surrounding the house gives it a feeling of darkness. The term “mystery” also serves to stimulate the reader’s curiosity. This quality is important to the overall effect of Poe's story. By leaving the effect of the house as something somewhat unknown, he prompts the reader to join the narrator in a disc...... middle of paper ...... to set the stage, the Poe's story culminates with a battle between Usher and his sister. This episode offers the reader a thrilling demonstration of the horror for which they have been warned throughout the story. Earlier in the story, the narrator spoke of the entombment of Lady Madeline, Usher's sister. Although the reader knows that she was buried, it is not until the end that it is revealed that she was buried alive. On the last night of the narrator's stay, Madeline emerges from her coffin to fight her brother. The narrator rushes out of the house in the form of House Usher and sees its final demise. The style and structure of Poe's story is excellent. His use of descriptive phrases and psychology paints a twisted picture for the audience. The slow style creates a sense of suspense that is released perfectly as the story comes to its dramatic conclusion..