A Comparison of Jordans End and The Fall of the House of Usher
Ellen Glasgow's "Jordan's End" is a retelling of Edgar Allan Poe's"The Fall of the House of Usher," while having important differences.Glasgow keeps the same basic elements as in Poe's telling, including thedreary house, the madness in the family, and the narrator of a persondescribing their journey to the house to try and help. Beyond this though,Glasgow's version differs significantly, with the main character different,the central relationship different, the approach different, and theconclusion different. These changes can all be considered as a result ofthe story being told from a female perspective. Each of the differenceswill now be considered, with the focus on why Glasgow would have changedthem, and the impact this has on the story. The first difference that occurs in the story is that Glasgow offersa new central character. In Poe's version, the central character isRoderick, the person in the house who has sent for help and the one who isgoing insane. With Roderick as the main character, the story becomes oneof watching someone as they descend into madness. This means that thestory becomes one without hope, while Poe also allows the reader to
" As has been seen, there aredifferences in the main character, the central relationship, the author'sapproach, and the conclusion of the story. As the narrator states, "Forlorn as it appeared at this first approach, I surmised that Jordan's End must have possessed once charm as well as distinction. The second is that Glasgow does notwant to sit back detached from the story and view a person's descent intomadness, as if it is an experiment to be watched. However, one major difference is made. In Poe's version, there is no happy ending. With this ending, the meaning is createdthat Mrs Alan Jordan will continue to suffer, but that life will go on andright itself. The next major difference in the story is that the centralrelationship changes. This ends with the narratorrunning from the house and the house collapsing. But the whole place was badly in need of repair" (Glasgow 360). In Poe's story, thestory begins with a sense of doom and ends when the reason for the doom hasplayed itself out. Unlike Poe's story, thereis no sense of detachment in Glasgow's version. When Mrs Alan Jordan tellsher husband she is back, the narrator states that "she said it in a voicethat wrung my heartstrings" (Glasgow 363). In Poe's story, the narrator describes the house saying, "I knownot how it was - but, with the first glimpse of the building, a sense ofinsufferable gloom pervaded my spirit" (Poe 148). This change by Glasgow is achange to a very female perspective, with the love relationship central,and the major point of interest being how this sad wife will cope with herhusband's demise.
Common topics in this essay:
Alan Jordan,
Beyond Glasgow's,
Glasgow Poe's,
Unlike Poe's,
House Usher,
Instead Glasgow,
alan jordan,
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poe's story,
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Jordan Alan,
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glasgow offers,
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Glasgow's Jordan's,
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story told female,
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Acceptance Essays
