Analysis On The Fall Of The House Of Usher

People have many factors in their lives affecting their motivations and decision-making processes. In “The Fall of the House of Usher” the main character is a man named Roderick Usher. This man is affected by emotional influences, family illness, and a gloomy environment. The emotional theme of fear runs through the entirety of this story. Mr. Usher is influenced by an illness that affects his sister and his own self proclaimed mental illness. The environment in which he live plays a factor in how he interacts with others. All these influences ultimately force him into the grave.
Fear is the main factor affecting Roderick Usher’s behaviors and decision-making processes. The narrator explains that Mr. Usher has sent him a letter requesting that

Mr. Usher’s sister has an illness that is stated to be cataleptical. This type of illness can be very unnerving for those affected by it and those who are the caretakers. Madeline’s illness affects Mr. Usher to a point where he chooses to completely avoid discussing it with the narrator. It can be concluded from his lack of discussion that Mr. Usher wants to pretend as if his sister is not sick or may not even exist. “For several days ensuing, her name was unmentioned by either Usher or myself: and during this period I was busied in earnest endeavours to alleviate the melancholy of my friend.” (Poe 681) This is a contributing factor to the mental illness that he claims to have and can be linked to his reasoning behind burying his sister where she could not be used for experimentation by the local doctors.
The last influence on Mr. Usher is the environment in which he lives. “…the decaying House mirroring Usher’s mind…” (Timmerman 2) The narrator gives a description of the outside of the residence that would make a beautiful day outside become dreary when nearing the house of Mr.