"A skillful literary artist has constructed a tale, … there should be no word written, of which the tendency, direct or indirect, is not to the one pre-established design…"
Edgar Allan Poe, who was praised as given the title of "one of the greatest journalistic critic of his time" by literary critics, stressed unity, totality, and prescribed design. And "The Fall of the House of Usher", is proved to be a very successful story to demonstrate Poe’s adherence of his own principle of constructiveness and his structural art. The intention of this research paper is, therefore, to examine how Poe emphasized unity of effect in theory and how it is fulfilled in practice especially in one of his best-known stories.
In a close reading of "Usher", the author is above all impressed by the melancholic tone that Poe obviously intends to raise at the very beginning of this story. For this reason, how Poe implements his technique by making tone obedient to the unity of effect will be first of all examined in this paper.
Obviously, tone should be identified with atmosphere. According to Poe, unity of setting is another important requirement for achieving the unity of effect in prose writing, which will be studied in the second section.
If, as critics maintain, characters are skilfully adapted to the circumstances which surround them are a general device in Poe’s tales, it is in "Usher" in particular. The third section intends to show how characters are made to fit into the desolate house and dreary environment to achieve the desired effect in this tale.
Finally, with the ideal arrangement of effective tone, setting, characters, Poe gains his battlefield to carry out unity of effect in plot in "Usher". In order to attain the unity of plot in literary writing, Poe stressed both "unity of time" and "unity of action", as essential parts in his theory on unity of effect. In "Usher", both of these aspects are completely fulfilled through the brief time span in which the story happens, a coherent plot line and a "mutual relationship" between incidents. Hence, Poe’s emphasis on unity of plot in theory, and how it is accomplished in "Usher" in the last section will be explored in the last section of this paper.
Consistent with Poe’s theory of "unity", "totality" and "full design", four aspects, namely tone, setting, characters and plot through which Poe attempts to create a vision of "unity of effect" in this tale are examined in this paper.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1 Tone
1. Unity of Tone in Theory
1.1. Unity of Tone in Theory
1.2 Unity of Tone in “Usher”
Chapter 2 Setting
2.1 Unity of Setting in Theory
2.2 Unity of Setting in “Usher”
2.2.1 Effect of Closed Space
2.2.2 Adoption of Blackness and Darkness
2.2.3 Contribution of Extreme Weather Condition
Chapter 3 Characters in “Usher”
3.1 The Narrator
3.2. Madeline Usher
3.3 Roderick Usher
Chapter 4 Plot
4.1 Unity of Plot in Theory
4.2 Unity of Plot in “Usher”
4.2.1 Brief Time Span
4.2.2 Coherent Plot Line
4.2.3 Mutual Relationship between Incidents
Research Objective and Thematic Focus
The primary objective of this research paper is to examine how Edgar Allan Poe implemented his theory of "unity of effect" within his acclaimed short story "The Fall of the House of Usher," specifically focusing on how the author creates a coherent and totalizing experience for the reader.
- The role of a unifying, melancholic tone in establishing the story's atmosphere.
- The significance of a "closed" setting and restricted physical space.
- The function of isolated and diseased characters in maintaining the narrative's bleak mood.
- The importance of brevity, time compression, and internal plot coherence.
- The concept of "mutual dependence" between plot incidents and their symbolic representation.
Excerpt from the Book
2.2.3 Contribution of Extreme Weather Condition
In order to realize setting of its “highest manifestation”, Poe is obviously motivated to exploit extreme weather condition to add overall effect. Poe writes in “The Philosophy of Composition”,
I made the night tempestuous…for the effect of contrast with the (physical) serenity within the chamber. Finding all dark and thence adopting the half-fancy that it was the spirit of his mistress that knocked (1603).
In “Usher”, it is usually at night that the major actions of this story take place: the narrator arrives in the house of Usher “as the shades of the evening drew on”;(397) it is “at night” that Usher tells the narrator of his sister’s malady (404); then in “one evening” the narrator is informed “abruptly that the lady Madeline was no more” (409); the vault in which Madeline is placed is “small, damp, and entirely without means of admission for light” (410); the night in which the house of the Usher collapses is described as “tempestuous yet sternly beautiful.”(414) Moreover, in order to add to the horrible effect, “increasing storm” with “wildwind” is adopted in the final scene to provide complications and help create frightening effect in this tale.
By allowing the story to happen in a close-in setting of wasteland in a completely isolated mansion with horrible surroundings where everything is black and dark, the unity of setting in “Usher” is ideally adapted to intensify a terrifying, eccentric and mysterious atmosphere.
Summary of Chapters
Chapter 1 Tone: This chapter examines how Poe utilizes gloom and melancholic vocabulary to establish and maintain a consistent atmospheric tone throughout the narrative.
Chapter 2 Setting: This section explores Poe’s theoretical requirements for a "closed" setting and how he applies these to the isolated and decayed mansion in the story.
Chapter 3 Characters in “Usher”: This chapter analyzes how the three central characters—the narrator, Madeline, and Roderick Usher—are psychologically adapted to fit the desolate environment.
Chapter 4 Plot: This concluding analysis focuses on the structural unity of the story, highlighting the brief time span and the logical interdependence of plot incidents.
Keywords
Unity of effect, Edgar Allan Poe, The Fall of the House of Usher, short fiction, Gothic atmosphere, setting, characterization, plot structure, melancholy, Roderick Usher, Madeline Usher, narrative theory, literary analysis, constructiveness, closed space.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research paper?
The paper explores the practical application of Edgar Allan Poe's literary theory, specifically the "unity of effect," within his story "The Fall of the House of Usher."
What are the primary thematic pillars analyzed in the work?
The analysis is structured around four main aspects: tone, setting, characters, and plot.
What is the main research objective regarding Poe's narrative technique?
The goal is to determine how Poe successfully used specific literary devices to ensure every element of the story contributes to a pre-established, totalizing effect.
Which scientific or theoretical framework does the author apply?
The paper utilizes Poe’s own "The Philosophy of Composition" as a framework, alongside critical interpretations of Poe’s "constructiveness" and structural artistry.
What does the main body of the paper specifically investigate?
The main body breaks down how Poe manipulated atmosphere through gloom, restricted the narrative space to a "closed" environment, and synchronized the characters' states with the house's decay.
Which keywords best encapsulate the core of this study?
Key terms include "unity of effect," "Gothic atmosphere," "closed setting," "mutual dependence," and "narrative structure."
How does the author interpret the significance of the "closed space" in the story?
The author argues that the confinement of the action to the Usher mansion functions as a necessary "frame" that concentrates the reader's attention and intensifies the horror.
What is the author's conclusion regarding the relationship between the Usher twins and their home?
The author concludes that there is a profound "mutual dependence" where the physical and psychic deterioration of the twins is intrinsically linked to the decay of the mansion itself.
- Quote paper
- Diplom-Wirtschaftamerikanistin Xiumei Liu (Author), 2005, The unity effect in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/75734
