Although most major characters in the American Gothic canon are members of the aristocracy, their dominant position in society does not guarantee them a satisfying life. The focus of this analysis will be the representation of the individual in relation to their economic status: does having wealth mean that upper-class characters are more likely to lead a fulfilling life than lower-middle class characters? Through a close reading of Edgar Allen Poe's “The Fall of the House of Usher,” Nathaniel Hawthorne's “The House of the Seven Gables,” Kate Chopin's “Désirée's Baby,” and Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome, readers can clearly see a pattern of social criticism according to which members of the aristocracy are – in general – the most narrow-minded, dissatisfied and resentful characters in the canon. Presented in chronological order, each work builds on the themes of the previous one and offers new perspectives on class and the individual. In Edgar Allen Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher," the mythical connection between the narrator's friend Usher and his family home conveys an important commentary on the nature of American aristocratic life. The “mental disorder” (110) that Usher suffers from is indicative of the relationship between the individual and his class status. Usher is rich in money and comes from an “ancient family” (111) of respectable status; however, when the narrator reveals that there is no “enduring branch” (111) that continues the Usher line, it becomes clear that the aristocratic man is completely defined by the material. This notion can then be extended to broader American society at the time Poe is writing: through his depiction of Usher's powerlessness and inability to control his environment, Poe is creating... middle of paper... hat his love for Mattie is enough to convince him to leave Zeena, there's only one thing stopping him. Ethan's fear of starting a new life without “money” (78) causes him to stop and reevaluate the costs and benefits of running away with Mattie. The allure of aristocracy and wealth is too much for Ethan, as he resides in a nation that values ​​class status and normative life above all else. When Mattie and Ethan realize they can't be together, Mattie is the one who comes up with the couple's suicide plan. However, it is not clear whether he does it for his own good or for that of his lover: throughout the text it is Ethan who continually appears dissatisfied with his life. Perhaps Mattie recognizes that the only way for Ethan to escape the constant unhappiness of his life is through his own death, and she is willing to make the sacrifice with him..