Hi!
Could anyone tell me what does Edgar Allan Poe attack in this short story?

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Have you read the story? What do you think is being attacked?

Sorry. I'm new to this website.

I read the story and I think he attacks society. He illustrates that through telling the story of the Usher family and how Roderick and Madeline were the last survivors. I mean, even a big family like the Ushers could collapse. But I'm not sure about my answer. Because in the question I've got it says "What does Poe attack and pities?"

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Originally Posted by onegame

Because in the question I've got it says "What does Poe attack and pities?"

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I'd say that in this short story Poe attacks mental illness and pities dysfunctional people/families.

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

I'd say that in this short story Poe attacks mental illness and pities dysfunctional people/families.

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Would you explain more please?

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Originally Posted by onegame

Would you explain more please?

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The actual house and the family of Usher fell because of Roderick's mental illness. He was a hypochondiac probably and also maybe had dissociative identity disorder. He was definitely depressed ("melancholy") and may have been guilty of incest (their strange attachment) and buried his sister alive.

You'll have to support the above from the story. Should be easy enough to do.

Thanks a zillion! :)

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Originally Posted by onegame

Thanks a zillion! :)

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Let me know what you teacher thought of your essay. When's it due?

Oh, and Roderick's mental illness caused him to commit murder.

It's due tomorrow.

What is the main theme in the story? Is it decay? Because he talks about the house and how it has collapsed?

If we were to compare the characters, would it be right to say that Roderick is more romantic than the narrator?

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Originally Posted by onegame

What is the main theme in the story? Is it decay? Because he talks about the house and how it has collapsed?

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I'd say so -- the decay of a (literal) house, the decay of a family, the decay of a man.

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If we were to compare the characters, would it be right to say that Roderick is more romantic than the narrator?

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I would consider the narrator more romantic, if you define that word in its broadest sense. What did the narrator do? How was he a "hero"?

I just find Roderick more romantic, because of the abnormal relationship between him and his sister, his illness, and the books he was obsessed with.

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Originally Posted by onegame

I just find Roderick more romantic, because of the abnormal relationship between him and his sister, his illness, and the books he was obsessed with.

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Maybe in the very narrow sense, romantic = lover, but I'd go with the narrator and the broader sense myself.

The narrator comes to Roderick's house to rescue him and in answer to his letter. The narrator is a hero because he is properly impressed with Roderick's paintings, he tries to cheer Roderick by reading with him, and he listens to Roderick's improvised guitar compositions. The narrator is empathetic, imaginative, emotional, and supportive.

I guess I need to read more about the features of romanticism. I'm still new to analysing literary work and it's still somewhat a hard task to do.

Thank you so much for everything :)

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Originally Posted by onegame

I guess I need to read more about the features of romanticism. I'm still new to analysing literary work and it's still somewhat a hard task to do.

Thank you so much for everything :)

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You're welcome. Be sure to report back what you wrote about and how you did.