In "The Fall of the House of Usher," there is ambiguity surrounding Madeline's death and her return--neither the characters nor the readers know the cause of Madeline's death or if she was actually dead when buried. Soon after the burial, Usher starts to suspect that they had buried Madeline while she was still alive: "...I hear it, and have heard it....Many minutes, many hours, many days, have I heard it...yet I dared not …
showed first 75 words of 423 total

showed last 75 words of 423 total
…certain whether Madeline was dead or alive when she was buried. This creates fear and suspense because when Madeline escapes from the tombs, the readers do not know if she is real or a ghost. In addition, it is uncertain whether Usher buried her alive knowingly or accidentally. The suspicion caused by the uncertainty of Usher's intentions causes the readers to fear Usher and what will happen to him because of his attempt at murder.