Criticism Toward Human Nature in Gothic Romanticism

How do the Gothic fiction writers express—either directly or indirectly—a criticism of human nature. Explain what the writers criticize about human nature, and how they communicate this criticism to the reader. Do the writers have similar attitudes toward human nature? Explain.

• In "The Fall of the House of Usher", Poe expresses criticism toward the human nature of doubt. This criticism is evident when Usher hears Madeline's movement from within her tomb but doesn't tell the narrator of his suspicions until later when Madeline escapes her tomb herself. He was doubted what he did indeed hear, and as a result, dies from the shock and dread of her awakening body.
• In "The Fountain of Youth", Hawthorne expresses criticism toward the human nature of taking youth for granted. This criticism is evident after the four elderly subjects partake of the fountain of youth. After having drunk from the fount, they fall into delirium, believing they are young when they are actually still old. They go crazy and take this youthful feeling for granted by, completely forgetting the feeling of age that they did face and even making fun of the infirmities encountered with age. They even make fun of the elderly in their merriment. Hawthorne writes," The most singular effect of their gayety was an impulse to mock the infirmity and decrepitude of which they had so lately been the victims. They laughed loudly at their old-fashioned attire, the wide-skirted coats and flapped waist-coats of the young men, and the ancient cap and gown of the blooming girl. One limped across the floor like a gouty grandfather; one set a pair of spectacles astride of his nose, and pretended to pore over the black-letter pages of the book of magic; a third seated himself in an arm-chair, and strove to imitate the venerable dignity of Dr. Heidegger..."Because they took the youth they had previously felt for granted, they were faced with a feeling of disappointment at it's departure rather than a feeling of gratitude that they had been able to feel young again for at least a small moment.
• In "Masque of the Red Death", Poe expresses criticism toward the human nature of negligence and the taking of health for granted. This criticism is aimed toward the noble people at Prince Prospero's party. Those at the party shut themselves off from the declining health of the people of the kingdom instead of helping or contributing to the sick's betterment, and even worse-- they throw a party to enjoy while they do so. The Red Death's unexpected arrival at the party and killing off the crowd can be seen as punishment for not realizing just how fortunate the people at the party are for their health and their negligence of the people who don't have good health. If Prince Prospero's friends aren't grateful for their health, they might as well fall ill.
• The authors of these works express similar criticisms toward human nature. In "The Fountain of Youth" and "Masque of the Red Death", Hawthorne and Poe show a common criticism of taking what is given for granted. The elderly men and woman in "The Fountain of Youth" are ungrateful for the small period of youth they are given and don't take the time to fully appreciate the youth they are given, and the friends of Prospero who attend his party don't seem to fully appreciate their health. Both groups of people from both works receive a form of punishment as a result of their ungratefulness-- disappointment and death.