Edgar Allan Poe has been considered the author of the darkest and most horrific works of literature. He was loved by many for his complex literary works that ultimately made an impact on the literary world today. However, Poe's works were the subject of heavy criticism before and after his death. Because Poe was generally known for his thought-provoking short stories, his short stories often received mixed reviews. One of Poe's most questionable short stories is "The Fall of the House of Usher." This short story was "considered one of the earliest and supreme examples of the Gothic horror story" (Plot Summary: "The Fall of House Usher"). Poe himself described this play as "arabesque" because of its ornate prose (Plot Summary: "The Fall of the House of Usher"). However, many critics disagreed with each other on their views on "The Fall of the House of Usher". Carl Mowery said that this novella was "the most cerebral [because] there [was] little action to drive the plot, no trips to a catacomb, no descent into a whirlpool, [and] no crime to resolve” (Preview of “The Fall of the House of Usher” last name change). Unlike Mowery, I found this news relatively interesting. I found the use and significance of supernatural theatricality in this story to be quite captivating. I see why Mowery made his criticism, perhaps because this story had a lower story compared to the higher action short stories that Poe wrote. I think the choice of Poe's character, consisting of twins and a narrator, kept the short story simple, but left enough room for character development through the supernatural effects. Perhaps Poe's readers had different expectations from this short story, but I found "The Fall of the House of Ush...... middle of paper ...... he is crazy as artist OR his name, I don't know how to change it). Personally, I don't agree with Marmon's theory. I never thought she was a vampire, and after rereading the short story, I still don't think she was a vampire. The vampire motif creates an even stranger vibe in the story, but I still think the opposite of Madeline's character. I believe his character played an important role in adding to the supernatural tone of the story. Madeline's fate at the end of the story gave the story more room for interpretation; I understand the criticism from readers who believe in the vampire theory, but I think the opposite. The character of Madeline really strengthened the story by bringing the unknown of reason and purity into the story. "The Fall of the House of Usher" revealed that Poe's writing style was part of the Gothic style, and people see this story as one of Poe's works..