This book contains the following story:
The Fall of the House of Usher
"The Fall of the House of Usher" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1839. It is a gothic tale of horror and decay, exploring themes of madness, family, and the supernatural. Here's a plot summary of "The Fall of the House of Usher":
Introduction: The story is narrated by an unnamed protagonist who receives a letter from his childhood friend, Roderick Usher. The letter informs him of Roderick's severe illness and a request for his presence at the Usher family mansion.
The House of Usher: Upon arriving at the decaying and isolated Usher mansion, the narrator is struck by its gloomy and foreboding appearance. The mansion itself seems to be a living entity, with a tarn (small lake) surrounding it. The tarn reflects the house, creating a surreal and oppressive atmosphere.
Roderick Usher: The narrator is reunited with Roderick Usher, who appears to be in a state of profound physical and mental decline. Roderick explains that his condition is a result of a family curse, which has caused acute sensitivity to the senses and heightened nervousness. He claims that the house itself is sentient and that it has a malevolent influence on his well-being.
Madeline Usher: Roderick reveals that his twin sister, Madeline, has been suffering from a mysterious illness that has rendered her cataleptic and seemingly lifeless. Despite her condition, she is buried in a vault within the mansion, as her family believes in the possibility of her revival.
The Unveiling of Madeline: As the days pass, the narrator becomes increasingly disturbed by the eerie and oppressive atmosphere of the house. One stormy night, Roderick rushes to the narrator's room, terrified and convinced that Madeline has returned from the dead. They hear strange noises and unearthly sounds within the mansion.
The Fall of the House: In a climactic and terrifying sequence, Madeline, seemingly resurrected and clad in burial clothes, confronts Roderick. In her final moments, she collapses on her brother, and they both die. The narrator flees the mansion just as it collapses into the tarn, sinking into the water and disappearing forever.
Conclusion: The story ends with the narrator's account of the destruction of the Usher mansion and the house's complete disappearance into the tarn. The fall of the mansion symbolizes the end of the Usher family and the culmination of the curse.
"The Fall of the House of Usher" is known for its eerie and atmospheric writing, its exploration of the macabre and the psychological, and its themes of decay and madness. It is considered one of Edgar Allan Poe's most celebrated and influential works in the genre of Gothic literature.
