Gothic horror lovers can find it on Netflix now The Fall of the House of Ushera new miniseries by Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House), inspired by the story of the same name by Edgar Allan Poe. However, throughout the eight episodes of this original red “N” show there is a flood of allusions to a variety of texts by the legendary writer from the second half of the 19th century. We list them below all stories and poems by Poe, the The Fall of the House of Usher He saw fit to refer to it in various ways and even more than once.
Stories (and novel) by Edgar Allan Poe
“The Fall of the House of Usher”
This story not only gave Mike Flanagan’s series its title, but also inspired the name of the twins Roderick and Madeline Usher, while Auguste Dupin (the television version of the character) somewhat represents the narrator of “The Fall of the House of Usher.” .And obviously, this Poe story already foreshadowed some catastrophic events seen in the Netflix show, including the fate of Roderick and Madeline.
“The Crimes of Morgue Street”
This story features Auguste Dupin as an amateur detective, and although the Netflix series alludes to this character’s name, Auguste Dupin is actually a prosecutor trying to bring the Usher family to justice. Both in The Fall of the House of Usher As in The Murders in the Rue Morgue, there is a character named Camille L’Espanaye who suffers a similar fate to her literary counterpart in the third episode – with the same title as the story.
The story of Arthur Gordon Pym
In the series, the legal representative of the Usher family is named Arthur Pym, thanks to this unique novel by Poe. Even the past of the character played by Mark Hamill is inspired by the same literary work, in which the Grampus – referenced in the Netflix show – is the name of a whaling ship.
“Metzingerstein”
Frederick, the eldest of the Usher children in the series, took his name from Frederick, the Baron von Metzengerstein, the protagonist of this story, which was the first to be published under Poe’s signature. The theme of deception through one’s own arrogance present in “Metzenbergstein” also appears in the second episode of The Fall of the House of Usher.
“Buried alive”
Victorine Lafourcade, Roderick Usher’s eldest illegitimate child in the series, is named after one of the characters in this story, Poe. It also served as the inspiration for Eliza’s (mother of Roderick and Madeline) story about being buried alive.
“The Mask of the Red Death”
The name Prospero “Perry” Usher, the youngest of Roderick’s illegitimate children, is a tribute to the unfortunate prince who stars in this story. “The Mask of the Red Death” is also the title of the second episode of the series, in which Perry’s fate has a lot to do with what happens in Poe’s story.
“The Barrel of Amontillado”
The Usher company Fortunato Pharmaceuticals is a nod to this story, in which Fortunato is a nobleman with a fateful destiny. There is a death by walls in the series that relates entirely to The Cask of Amontillado.
“The Treacherous Heart”
Episode five of The Fall of the House of Usher It shares its title with this popular story by Edgar Allan Poe. Additionally, the story and death of Victorine Lafourcade are inspired by the events recounted in The Tell-Tale Heart.
“Conversation with a Mummy”
The Egyptian artifacts in Roderick and Madeline’s possession reference this satirical story by Poe, as do the sapphire blue eyes that appear in episode six. Madeline’s final fate also has strong connections to Conversation with a Mummy.
“The Fountain and the Pendulum”
This Poe story inspired Frederick Usher’s claustrophobia and his bloody death in the seventh episode of the series, also titled “The Pit and the Pendulum.”
“The Black Cat”
This is also the title of the fourth episode of The Fall of the House of Usherwhere Napoleon “Leo” Usher dies under circumstances reminiscent of the events recounted in Poe’s original story.
“The Gold Beetle”
The title of the sixth episode of the series is almost identical to the story “The Gold-Bug”. Additionally, entrepreneur Tamerlane Usher has a company called Goldbug, whose logo reinforces the connection to Poe’s original text.
“Berenice”
In episode seven of The Fall of the House of UsherFrederick pulls his wife Morrie’s teeth after being petrified by her smile, similar to Poe’s story.
Poems by Edgar Allan Poe
“The Raven”
Carla Gugino’s character’s name in the Netflix series is Verna, which turns out to be an anagram of “Crow” (“crow” in English). On the other hand, the title of the first episode, “A Midnight Dreary”, was taken from the first verse of the original poem, while the eighth and final episode is literally titled “The Raven”. Such a black bird also appears in The Fall of the House of Usheras well as various versions of the memorable phrase “Never again” from the poetic text.
“Annabel Lee”
Roderick’s first wife The Fall of the House of Usher It takes its name from the title character of this poem about death and passionate love signed by Edgar Allan Poe. Roderick himself recites it in episodes three and seven of Mike Flanagan’s series.
“The Spirits of the Dead”
During Victorine Lafourcade’s funeral in episode five of The Fall of the House of UsherThe words preached by the priest contain several verses from this poem by Poe.
“The City in the Sea”
During the confrontation between Madeline and Verna in episode seven of the Netflix show, the latter recites this poem by Poe about a personification of death ruling a city.
Finally, it should be noted that Morella “Morrie” Usher, Frederick’s wife, takes her name from Poe’s story “Morella.” A similar case is that of Tamerlane Usher (the poem “Tamerlane”), her husband William “Bill” T. Wilson (the story “William Wilson”) and the company Landor Pharma (the story “Landor’s Cabin”). Napoleon Usher’s first name is the same as that of the protagonist of the story “The Glasses” and that of Toby, Camille L’Espanaye’s assistant, is the same as that of the character in the story “Never bet your head on the devil”. Is there another reference to the work of Edgar Allan Poe that needs to be mentioned?
The Fall of the House of Usher It is currently available in the Netflix catalog.
