Introduction
The themes of isolation and secrecy effectively manifest in the two selected stories. In “The Minister’s Black Veil,” Mr. Hooper becomes socially isolated when wearing a black veil (Hawthorne 2). The author uses this item to symbolize the minister’s sins, which he wants to keep secret. In “The Fall of the House of Usher,” the mansion is decaying and isolated from the rest of the world, which promotes this topic (Poe 3). Furthermore, the Usher family has dark secrets about their illness, establishing an eerie atmosphere in the short story.
Third-Person vs. First-Person Narration
Different narrator types are used in the two stories, and each of them is effective. First, Hawthorne’s third-person narrator introduces an objective perspective that draws almost equal attention to individual characters and the entire community and explains the thoughts and feelings of all involved people. Using an alternative point of view would deprive the literary piece of this information, which would be disadvantageous.
Second, Poe relied on an unknown first-person narrator to make readers feel as if they were involved in the events. It was an effective decision as the author wanted to create an atmosphere of horror. Using the third-person narrative would not allow for achieving this result.
Realism vs. Fantastics
Hawthorne’s story is more realistic because he describes people in ordinary circumstances, even though some symbols and allegories are embedded into these conditions. On the contrary, Poe introduced supernatural elements not found in everyday life. However, there is no direct connection between realism and effectiveness. Authors in literature are encouraged to use any means, strategies, and symbols to convey messages effectively. For example, fantastic fiction pieces are not authentic, but no one can state that the entire genre is ineffective.
Conclusion
Determining which story’s theme is more universal is challenging. While Hawthorne focused on sin and guilt, Poe commented on mortality and decline. The two topics are broad and interesting for numerous readers. However, “The Fall of the House of Usher” seems more universal because this story is compelling in international contexts. Hawthorne’s short story cannot impress with the same advantage because various communities draw different attention to religion and sin.
Works Cited
Hawthrone, Nathaniel. “The Minister’s Black Veil.” Web.
Poe, Edgar Allan. The Fall of the House of Usher. Elegant Ebooks, 1839.