A Literary Masterpiece Composed by A Person Without A Twisted Mind or A False Sense of Reality
             (Statement could be debatable)
            
             David Warren
             A morbid and melancholic reality consumes Edgar Allen Poe's mind. Through a life of loosing loved ones, his contorted thoughts are expressed through his writings. In his short story, "The Fall of the House of Usher," he illustrates how evil can consume one's thoughts and alter their perception of reality. His ploy is effective in text and as a cinematic drama. Both versions have the same characters, and an identical setting. While the video and the short story have several similarities, the overwhelming differences between the main characters' initial meeting, Usher's death, and the house's demise make both these interpretations terrifying.
             In the short story, Madeline is rarely mentioned throughout the beginning of narrator's visit. Usher invited his childhood friend because of an illness he was experiencing. In the short story, the narrator, portrayed as Phillip in the film, is received with a very warm welcome. Also there is a mutual friendship between the two. No bitterness or dislike is made apparent. However, in the video this is displayed somewhat differently. Phillip is only coming to the house to claim his future wife. There is no amiable relationship between Usher and Phillip. Usher does not welcome Phillip at all and tries to make him leave immediately.
             Another obvious difference between the two versions is Usher's death. In the short story Madeline suddenly bursts into Usher's chamber and kills him. The film uses a much more dramatic and drawn out scenario. Phillip rushes down to free his struggling bride. When he frees her she latches on to him and starts to strangle him. She then realizes she is killing the wrong person and lunges towards Roderick. While she is atop Roderick, the fire begins to ...