“The Fall of the House of Usher” is an eerie and suspenseful series taken from the Edgar Allan Poe books. You may have overlooked some subtle details while getting lost in the complex plot and interesting personalities. This article will decipher the secret hints and references that add to the series’ fascination.
First, we shall mention the names given to the characters. The central figures in the series are Roderick and Madeline Usher; these are Poe’s characters. The name Eliza Usher is inspired by Poe’s mother, Eliza Poe. Their biological father is Mr. Longfellow, named after the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, with whom Poe had an infamous plagiarism war.
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On the way, we encounter Rufus Griswold, whose name references a poet and critic who published several of Poe’s works. Every name of the Usher Child is inspired by Poe’s poems or stories, thereby enriching the literary context of the novel.
Carl Lumbly plays C. Auguste Dupin, a detective looking into Usher’s dark secrets. Dupin, who happens to be a character from Poe’s stories, is often associated with solving intricate mysteries. This brings more meaning to the storyline and is also a nod to the detective tales of Poe.
Carla Gugino, a regular collaborator of the series’ creator, Mike Flanagan, portrays Verna, a strange entity that torments the Usher family. Verna’s name is also an anagram of the raven that has tortured the student in Poe’s famous work, ‘The Raven.’
The majority of episode titles in the series are borrowed from Poe’s short stories, thereby establishing a connection of the fate of each Usher child to the respective story. For example, a story of the Red Death where an unknown person dressed in a hideous red mask throws deadly chemicals into a gathering of partygoers.
The show also borrows from “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” where Detective Dupin investigates a heinous crime. In the series, Camille’s fate is similar to the demise of the namesake in Poe’s story, whom a mad beast killed.
Elan Gale, a friend of Mike Flanagan, appears as a bartender in episode two. This unanticipated presence shows that they have been friends for a long time and have worked on Netflix projects together.
However, Molly Quinn, an actress who plays Jenny, is dating Elan Gale, her real-life fiancé. The series has an interesting twist in which their real-life connection is shown, proving how small a world we live in.
Tamerlane Usher is a co-owner of a fitness firm with her husband, William, known as Billt. Tamerlane’s creation of the Goldbug has been inspired by the Poe story “The Gold-Bug,” where friends go on a treasure hunt.
The Usher siblings are also introduced to Arthur Gordon Pym, whose stories arouse their imaginations. The name Ultima Thule doesn’t refer to any island but a distant and unattainable land. The problematic associations of the Ultima Thule led NASA to rename an object in space to Arrokoth.
Lenore’s film in episode six anticipates Frederick’s end in episode seven. The similarity between this film and Poe’s The Pit and the Pendulum suggests that Frederick might meet his death through a swinging piece of debris.
To conclude, “The Fall of the House of Usher” is a treasure house of literary allusions and literary treasures. The details make watching enjoyable and indicate the sincere gratitude of the authors for the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Hence, when you watch the series next time, note down these minor links, for they only add more thrill.
