In a majority of Romantic writings many archetypes, contextual symbols, and imagery is used to connect the readers to the story on a more deeper, intellectual level. Edgar Allen Poe, in particularly, was notorious for his dark writings and depressing storylines. Using those symbols in his writings will more than likely require the audience to have to think about a specific scene, which they will find to benefit them in the long wrong; they will have a new favorite story. This short story, The Fall of the House of Usher, has a very dark mood which will be exposed as the audience is gradually sucked into the plot. It will be noticed that it doesnt slowly get darker as it goes on but cuts to the chase right away and gives the reader a general idea of the entire mood in the beginning.
Authors have been known to use archetypals symbols in their writings to focus more closely on the universal patterns of human nature and to give more emphasis on any point he/she is trying to prove. In this story, specifically, archetypal symbols were used to elaborate even more on the depressing mood. Take Roderick Usher's twin sister Madeline, the sickly, dead-looking person, for example. The narrator describes Madeline as a zombie-like person who doesn't even seem to be alive. The narrator remarks, I learned that the glimpse I had obtained of her person would thus probably be the last I should obtain- that the lady, at least while living would be seen by me no more(326). In other words, she is so disturbing to look at, he doesn't want to have to look at her again. Ever since the narrator laid eyes on the house he immediately took into account the mental effects it had on him after spending some time under its roof. Over the next few days, being unintentionally paranoid about it, the narrator begins to question his own sanity, and believes he is catching whatever illness Roderick is cursed with. He exclaims, It was no wonder that his condition terrified - that it infected me(330).