The other week The Fall of The House of Usher, a Netflix series inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s works, was released on Netflix. If you follow us regularly you will remember that Edgar Allan Poe was a student of the classics, which helped inspire many of his works.

Greek literature has had a profound impact on the works of Edgar Allan Poe, and you can see it again in his short story The Fall of the House of Usher. The story is a classic example of Gothic literature, which was heavily influenced by Greek tragedy. The themes of madness, death, and decay that are central to the story are all present in Greek literature. There is also a reference to Athena Pallas in the show, mentioned in a quote from Poe’s famous poem: The Raven.

In The Fall of the House of Usher, Poe explores the theme of madness through the character of Roderick Usher. The character’s descent into madness is reminiscent of the tragic heroes in Greek literature, such as Oedipus and Ajax. The use of a first-person narrator also adds to the sense of madness and confusion in the story, which is a common feature in Greek tragedy.

The theme of death is also prominent in The Fall of the House of Usher. The decaying mansion and its surroundings are symbolic of death and decay. This is similar to the use of symbolism in Greek literature, where objects and settings are often used to represent abstract concepts.

Finally, the theme of decay is also present in The Fall of the House of Usher. The crumbling mansion and its surroundings are symbolic of the decay of the Usher family. This is similar to the use of decay in Greek literature, where it is often used to represent the decline of a society or civilization.

The themes of madness, death, and decay that are central to the story are all present in Greek literature. Poe’s use of these themes is a testament to his admiration for Greek tragedy and his ability to incorporate its elements into his own work. You can watch a trailer of the Netflix show below.