A Freudian Psychoanalytic Study of Causes of Usher’s Abnormal Personality in The Fall of The House of Usher

Abstract

Allan Poe is an excellent poet and novelist in the 19 century of America. In short novel, he is the pioneer of the modern detective novels and modern science fiction, which is comparable to Mark Twin and William Faulkner. He promotes the artistic status of Gothic novel through the creative means of mental horror. This thesis tries to interpret the psychology of the Usher under the framework of Freudian psychoanalytic theory. This thesis can be divided into 3 parts. Part one is a brief introduction to Poe’s literary career, providing a relevant background to the interpretation of the novel. Part two interprets the main character’s psychology from the perspective of the structure of personality. Part three is the conclusion part of the thesis. Through the analysis of the novel, we can draw the conclusion that environmental factor plays an important role in shaping one’s personality.