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The Fall of the House of Usher
The Fall of the House of
Usher
Edgar Allen Poe
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The Fall of the House of Usher
During the whole of a dull； dark； and soundless day in the autumn of
the year； when the clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens； I had
been passing alone； on horseback； through a singularly dreary tract of
country； and at length found myself； as the shades of the evening drew on；
within view of the melancholy House of Usher。 I know not how it was
but； with the first glimpse of the building； a sense of insufferable gloom
pervaded my spirit。 I say insufferable； for the feeling was unrelieved by
any of that half…pleasureable； because poetic； sentiment； with which the
mind usually receives even the sternest natural images of the desolate or
terrible。 I looked upon the scene before meupon the mere house； and the
simple landscape features of the domainupon the bleak wallsupon the
vacant eye…like windowsupon a few rank sedgesand upon a few white
trunks of decayed treeswith an utter depression of soul which I can
compare to no earthly sensation more properly than to the after…dream of
the reveller upon opiumthe bitter lapse into everyday lifethe hideous
dropping off of the veil。 There was an iciness； a sinking； a sickening of the
heartan unredeemed dreariness of thought which no goading of the
imagination could torture into aught of the sublime。 What was itI paused
to thinkwhat was it that so unnerved me in the contemplation of the
House of Usher？ It was a mystery all insoluble； nor could I grapple with
the shadowy fancies that crowded upon me as I pondered。 I was forced to
fall back upon the unsatisfactory conclusion； that while； beyond doubt；
there are combinations of very simple natural objects which have the
power of thus affecting us； still the analysis of this power lies among
considerations beyond our depth。 It was possible； I reflected； that a mere
different arrangement of the particulars of the scene； of the details of the
picture； would be sufficient to modify； or perhaps to annihilate its capacity
for sorrowful impression； and； acting upon this idea； I reined my horse to
the precipitous brink of a black and lurid tarn that lay in unruffled lustre
by the dwelling； and gazed downbut with a shudder even more thrilling
than beforeupon the remodelled and inverted images of the grey sedge；
and the ghastly tree…stems； and the vacant and eye…like windows。
Nevertheless； in this mansion of gloom I now proposed to myself a
sojourn of some weeks。 Its proprietor； Roderick Usher； had been one of
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The Fall of the House of Usher
my boon companions in boyhood； but many years had elapsed since our
last meeting。 A letter； however； had lately reached me in a distant part of
the countrya letter from him which； in its wildly importunate nature；
had admitted of no other than a personal reply。 The MS gave evidence of
nervous agitation。 The writer spoke of acute bodily illnessof a mental
disorder which oppressed himand of an earnest desire to see me； as his
best； and indeed his only personal friend； with a view of attempting； by the
cheerfulness of my society； some alleviation of his malady。 It was the
manner in which all this； and much more； was saidit was the apparent
heart that went with his requestwhich allowed me no room for hesitation；
and I accordingly obeyed forthwith what I still considered a very singular
summons。
Although； as boys； we had been even intimate associates； yet I really
knew little of my friend。 His reserve had been always excessive and
habitual。 I was aware； however； that his very ancient family had been
noted； time out of mind； for a peculiar sensibility of temperament；
displaying itself； through long ages； in many works of exalted art； and
manifested； of late； in repeated deeds of munificent yet unobtrusive charity；
as well as in a passionate devotion to the intricacies； perhaps even more
than to the orthodox and easily recognisable beauties of musical science。 I
had learned； too； the very remarkable fact； that the stem of the Usher race；
all time…honoured as it was； had put forth； at no period； any enduring
branch； in other words； that the entire family lay in the direct line of
descent； and had always； with very trifling and very temporary variation；
so lain。 It was this deficiency； I considered； while running over in thought
the perfect keeping of the character of the premises with the accredited
character of the people； and while speculating upon the possible influence
which the one； in the long lapse of centuries； might have exercised upon
the otherit was this deficiency； perhaps； of collateral issue； and the
consequent undeviating transmission； from sire to son； of the patrimony
with the name； which had； at length； so identified the two as to merge the
original title of the estate in the quaint and equivocal appellation of the
〃House of Usher〃an appellation which seemed to include； in the minds
of the peasantry who used it； both the family and the family mansion。
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I have said that the sole effect of my somewhat childish experiment
that of looking down within the tarnhad been to deepen the first singular
impression。 There can be no doubt that the consciousness of the rapid
increase of my supersitionfor why should I not so term it？served
mainly to accelerate the increase itself。 Such； I have long known； is the
paradoxical law of all sentiments having terror as a basis。 And it might
have been for this reason only； that； when I again uplifted my eyes to the
house itself； from its image in the pool； there grew in my mind a strange
fancya fancy so ridiculous； indeed； that I but mention it to show the vivid
force of the sensations which oppressed me。 I had so worked upon my
imagination as really to believe that about the whole mansion and domain
there hung an atmosphere peculiar to themselves and their immediate
vicinity an atmosphere which had no affinity with the air of heaven； but
which had reeked up from the decayed trees； and the grey wall； and the
silent tarna pestilent and mystic vapour； dull； sluggish； faintly discernible；
and leaden…hued。
Shaking off from my spirit what must have been a dream； I scanned
more narrowly the real aspect of the building。 Its principal feature seemed
to be that of an excessive antiquity。 The discoloration of ages had been
great。 Minute fungi overspread the whole exterior； hanging in a fine
tangled web…work from the eaves。 Yet all this was apart from any
extraordinary dilapidation。 No portion of the masonry had fallen； and there
appeared to be a wild inconsistency between its still perfect adaptation of
parts； and the crumbling condition of the individual stones。 In this there
was much that reminded me of the specious totality of old wood…work
which has rotted for long years in some neglected vault； with no
disturbance from the breath of the external air。 Beyond this indication of
extensive decay； however； the fabric gave little token of instability。
Perhaps the eye of a scrutinizing observer might have discovered a barely
perceptible fissure； which； extending from the roof of the building in front；
made its way down the wall in a zigzag direction； until it became lost in
the sullen waters of the tarn。
Noticing these things； I rode over a short causeway to the house。 A
servant in waiting took my horse； and I entered the Gothic archway of the
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hall。 A valet； of stealthy step； thence co