Dubious demeanours: unmasking Poe’s untrustworthy and delusional narrators in “The Fall of the House of Usher” (1839) and “Ligeia” (1838)

Abstract

[EN]Imbued with the gothic literary tradition, Edgar Allan Poe introduces his readers into a world of horror where reality is constantly clashing with supernatural powers. This paper examines the construction of Poe’s first-person narrators in order to prove their unreliability. Focusing on two of his most well-known tales, “The Fall of the House of Usher” and “Ligeia,” this study attempts to elaborate on the different techniques that Poe uses to construct his untrustworthy narrators. Firstly, several textual inconsistencies and incongruities are examined so as to verify the unreliable and deceitful nature of the two narrators. And secondly, the relation of these narrators to the other characters and physical setting is explored in order to expose the narrators’ psychological unbalance and compromised credibility.[ES]Influido por la tradición gótica literaria, Edgar Allan Poe introduce a sus lectores en un mundo de horror donde la realidad se funde con elementos sobrenaturales. Este trabajo analiza la construcción del narrador no fidedigno en primera persona en dos cuentos de Poe. Centrándonos en dos de sus relatos más conocidos, “The Fall of the House of Usher” y “Ligeia,” este ensayo pretende ahondar en las diferentes técnicas empleadas por Poe a la hora de construir unos narradores nada fidedignos. En primer lugar, se analizarán una serie de inconsistencias e incongruencias textuales con vistas a demostrar la sospechosa y poco fiable naturaleza de los dos narradores. Y, en segundo lugar, se estudiará la relación de estos narradores con respecto a otros personajes y al espacio físico para así advertir al lector de su desequilibrio mental y comprometida credibilidad.