Shocking Truth Behind the House of Usher's Family Tragedy Revealed: Verna Actor Shares Surprising Twist!

Warning: SPOILERS lie ahead for The Fall of the House of Usher!

Summary

In The Fall of the House of Usher, Verna is often perceived as an evil character, but she in fact assumes different roles and engages in sincere discussions with the affluent and influential Usher family.

While Verna's involvement with the Usher siblings ultimately results in their demise, it is important to recognize that she is not the primary antagonist. The Ushers' insatiable longing for wealth and prosperity is what propels the unfolding of the tragic incidents in the narrative.

Verna displays mercy towards Lenore, Roderick's granddaughter, by granting her a painless demise and unveiling the positive future that her passing will bring. In order to fulfill her contract with Roderick and Madeline, Verna establishes a non-profit organization to aid victims of domestic abuse. Although Verna's motives are not entirely sinister, she is driven by her obligations to Roderick and Madeline.

Despite being portrayed as the primary antagonist in the show, Carla Gugino offers some clarification regarding the family death agreement in "The Fall of the House of Usher." This series, created by Mike Flanagan, the mastermind behind "The Haunting of Hill House," loosely adapts various works by Edgar Allan Poe. It primarily revolves around a wealthy pharmaceutical family who becomes the target of a mysterious woman with connections to their past. Boasting a talented cast of both familiar faces from Flanagan's previous works and new talents, this horror drama has received widespread critical praise, particularly for Gugino's exceptional portrayal of the shape-shifting character, Verna.

Netflix interviewed Carla Gugino before the premiere of The Fall of the House of Usher to discuss her portrayal of Verna. She clarified that her character is not inherently evil and explained that the deaths of the titular family were more a result of their own choices rather than hers. Gugino emphasized how Poe's storytelling, which does not rely on religious themes, supports this perspective. Here is what Gugino explained:

Individuals with significant privilege and power have the opportunity to either do good or do bad. Poe, not believing in God or the devil, approached this concept differently. Verna, not being evil herself, offers these individuals the most honest and transformative conversations of their lives. She does not discriminate based on their moral character. The remarkable aspect of this shape-shifting character is the embodiment of neutrality, despite appearing radical or intense.

Why Verna Isn't The Real Villain of The Fall of the House of Usher

Verna, a clever anagram of raven, serves as the antagonist in "The Fall of the House of Usher," haunting each family member and exploiting their flaws. Flashbacks reveal that Verna possesses a supernatural ability to make deals, granting the siblings wealth and success in exchange for their heirs' short lives and their own simultaneous deaths in the future.

As the show progresses, Verna's true nature is unveiled. In adaptations of Poe's tales like "The Pit and the Pendulum" and "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," it becomes clear that Verna is not the primary villain but rather the reflection of Usher siblings' own malevolence. Even when confronted by the family's lawyer, Arthur Pym, played by Mark Hamill, Verna presents him with a deal but refrains from seeking revenge when he refuses. Verna's repeated appearances to the Ushers emphasize that their sins are derived from Roderick and Madeline's relentless pursuit of wealth.

Lenore, Roderick's granddaughter in The Fall of the House of Usher, is the only Usher to receive any form of mercy from Verna. Despite ultimately taking her own life, Lenore's death is granted by Verna in a non-painful manner, simply by touching her finger to her forehead. Prior to this, the shapeshifting demon informs Lenore of the positive future her death will bring, as her mother will use the inheritance from Roderick's death to establish a non-profit organization to support domestic abuse victims, ultimately saving countless lives. Unlike the other Ushers, Verna's tone towards Lenore carries a sense of heartbreak, revealing that her seemingly malevolent actions are merely part of fulfilling her agreement with Roderick and Madeline.

Source: Netflix