Examining Verna's Morality Test on the Usher Children: Could They Have Survived?

Article Overview

Verna evaluates the moral character of the Usher children prior to their deaths in order to gauge the severity of their fate, but unfortunately, none of them exhibit kindness or successfully pass the test. However, Verna displays compassion towards Lenore, who clearly showcases her distinctiveness from the rest of the Usher clan, resulting in her experiencing a tranquil demise.

Verna regrets the necessity of killing Lenore, but she is unable to find a loophole in order to spare her life. Doing so would violate her agreement with Roderick and Madeline to eliminate the entire Usher bloodline before their own deaths.

The Fall of the House of Usher explores various themes, including death and morality, which Verna puts to the test before carrying out the demise of the Usher children. Portrayed by Carla Gugino, Verna plays a critical role in the downfall of the Usher family line and shows little mercy towards her victims. Prior to their deaths, she interacts with each of the six children, giving them an opportunity to display kindness and a change of heart. However, the purpose behind Verna's assessment of their morality remains subject to debate, considering their fates were already determined by Roderick's agreement.

The Fall of the House of Usher is loosely based on Edgar Allan Poe's short story of the same name, but it also incorporates various characters from the author's other works. In particular, Carla Gugino's character Verna, who has the ability to change her form, bears similarities to the titular figure in Poe's The Raven. Additionally, her name can be rearranged to form an anagram of the word "raven," further connecting her to the avian creature. Verna plays an active role in both the present and the past, illustrating the long-lasting repercussions of individual actions. Despite her role in the deaths of all the Usher children as a result of Roderick's pact, Verna subjects each child to a test of their moral character prior to their demise. This significant detail enhances the impact of their deaths and the ensuing events.

Verna Tested Their Mortality To Determine The Brutality Of Their Deaths

None Of The Usher Children Showed Kindness

Verna had no intention of sparing the lives of any of the Usher children - their destinies were sealed on the eve of New Year's in 1980 when Roderick and Madeline struck a deal with Verna. However, before meeting their demise, Verna decided to evaluate the goodness, kindness, and morality within them, in order to determine the extent of their deaths' brutality. She always presented them with an opportunity to repent for their actions and change their minds prior to their demise. Yet, none of Roderick's six children managed to pass this test, as shared by the show's creator, Mike Flanagan.

Verna attempted to convince them to reconsider their choices and evade their dreadful fate, except for one individual. Frederick, known for his brutality and cruelty towards Morrie Usher and his wife, suffered a fate even more agonizing than the pain he inflicted. Due to his actions, Verna did not make an effort to change his mind, resulting in one of the most horrifying deaths. Conversely, Lenore, Roderick's granddaughter, demonstrated her compassionate nature and her refusal to follow in her family's footsteps. Because of this, Verna showed mercy to Lenore, granting her a peaceful death. The Fall of the House of Usher, along with other horror TV shows by Mike Flanagan, is available for streaming on Netflix.

Why Verna Didn't Use A Loophole To Keep Lenore Alive (Despite Regretting Her Death)

Lenore Proved She Wasn't Like The Rest Of The Ushers

Despite feeling regretful about having to kill Lenore, Verna did not exploit a loophole to spare her life, even though Lenore was innocent. Verna had the option of rendering Lenore unable to have children and thus ensuring the end of the Usher bloodline after Lenore's long life. However, this course of action would have violated the terms of Verna's agreement with Roderick and Madeline. According to the agreement, Roderick and Madeline were granted their desires as long as the next generation paid the price, and the entire Usher bloodline had to perish before them. This explains why The Fall of the House of Usher concludes with the deaths of Madeline and Roderick.

Editor's P/S

In the article, Verna, a mysterious and powerful figure, evaluates the morality of the Usher children before their deaths. Despite the fact that their fates were already sealed, Verna's assessment of their moral character adds depth and complexity to the story.

As a fan of the show, I found Verna's test to be a fascinating exploration of the themes of morality and redemption. While it was clear that the Usher children were not innocent, their deaths were still tragic. Verna's regret over having to kill Lenore, who showed a glimmer of kindness, highlights the conflict within her own character.

Overall, I believe that Verna's test served as a powerful reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for redemption.