THE FEAR IN THE HOUSE OF USHER In the story “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allen Poe, setting is used to portray many different things. Poe uses setting to suggest ideas, effects, and images. It creates a mood and foreshadows future events. Poe communicates facts about the characters through symbols throughout the setting. In the story the narrator is going to the House of Usher to comfort his friend, Roderick Usher …showed first 75 words of 1128 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1128 total…meeting Usher, the narrator is symbolically staring into the face of his psychological double”. Poe shows us that excessive fear can lead to insanity. As the narrator quickly fled the house and looked back to see the House of Usher sink out of sight. The collapse of the house is symbolic to the collapse of the narrators mind. Ultimately the story shows us that we must recognize our fears to be able to overcome them.