A Comparative Analysis: The Evolution of Madeline's Fate in The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe

Summary

The Netflix show The Fall of the House of Usher changed Madeline's ending from Edgar Allan Poe's original story, providing a gentler nature to her demise.

Madeline's demise in the production is orchestrated by her sibling, Roderick, who administers a deadly poison into her beverage and removes her eyes, deeming it a suitable farewell.

Drawing inspiration from Poe's narrative, the show intertwines parallel misfortunes befalling Madeline's mother, Eliza, and showcases Madeline resurfacing from the cellar to choke Roderick, mimicking their mother's actions towards their father.

Mary McDonnell, star of The Fall of the House of Usher, discussed how Madeline's ending differed from Edgar Allan Poe's original story. The Netflix show, created by Mike Flanagan, delves into the rise of siblings Roderick and Madeline Usher and the disturbing events that befall their family. Alongside McDonnell and Bruce Greenwood, the cast includes Carla Gugino, Henry Thomas, Samantha Sloyan, T'Nia Miller, Rahul Kohli, Kate Siegel, and Mark Hamill. While Madeline's character is inspired by Poe's short story, her death takes a different approach in the show.

During an interview with Still Watching Netflix, the cast of The Fall of the House of Usher discussed the various death scenes. McDonnell revealed that Roderick's character kills her character, but she appreciated the altered ending, highlighting the more peaceful nature of her demise. See McDonnell's comments on Madeline's fate in The Fall of the House of Usher below.

“There is a prevalent theme of sorrow, both expressed and suppressed, which can cause immense dread in our lives. It's profoundly tragic, deeply, deeply sorrowful. She meets her demise at the hands of her own brother. He has his valid motives. And these motives are closely tied to an exaggerated egoistic perception of himself and their identities. I am genuinely pleased to acknowledge the positive change in the way she meets her end. It is inevitable for her to perish, but there exists a more delicate nature to her fate.”

How Madeline's Fall Of The House Of Usher Ending Compares To The Poe Story

In Poe's original short story, it is discovered that Madeline had been afflicted by an unspecified illness and later presumed deceased. Assisted by the narrator, Roderick undertook the burial of his sister within their ancestral abode, ensuring her remains were safely locked behind a weighty door to prevent any untoward disturbance. Nevertheless, it transpired that Madeline had not truly succumbed, subsequently astonishing the narrator as she managed to extricate herself and tragically end Roderick's life.

In The Fall of the House of Usher, Madeline's fate took a different turn, but the show still managed to incorporate a part of Poe's story by having a similar tragedy befall her mother, Eliza (Annabeth Gish). Eliza seemed to die suddenly, leading young Roderick and Madeline to place her in a casket. However, Eliza surprisingly returned and ended up killing their biological father, William Longfellow. As for Madeline's own demise in the finale, it was revealed that Roderick poisoned her drink, ultimately causing her death. In a final nod to the original story, Madeline resurfaced from the basement and strangled Roderick, just as their mother had done to Longfellow, as the house crumbled around them. While The Fall of the House of Usher made changes to Madeline's inevitable demise, this sympathetic version of her death adds a deeper layer of meaning, tying together the Usher family's history and downfall in a circular manner.

Source: Still Watching Netflix