Final answer:
The title 'The Fall of the House of Usher' represents both the literal collapse of the Usher family home and the metaphorical decline of the Usher family lineage, mirroring themes of decay, hopelessness, and inevitable doom.
Step-by-step explanation:
The title 'The Fall of the House of Usher' in Edgar Allan Poe’s story represents both a literal and metaphorical decline. The narrative's bleak tone and setting reflect the hopelessness and darkness overshadowing the Usher family and their once-grand home. As the Usher bloodline comes to an end with Roderick and Madeline’s demise, the physical house itself collapses, signifying the total destruction of the Usher line and estate. Furthermore, the house’s decay mirrors Roderick Usher’s physical and psychological decline, further emphasizing the theme of inevitable doom and decay. The use of mirror reflections in the story enhances the sense of a grim, inescapable fate, intensifying the fatalistic atmosphere that surrounds the characters and the House of Usher.