The Enigmatic CADASIL Syndrome: Unraveling its Impact on Roderick in The Fall of the House of Usher
Exploring the intriguing connection between CADASIL, a rare vascular disease with dementia-like symptoms, and the hallucinations experienced by Roderick in 'The Fall of the House of Usher'
Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Fall of the House of Usher.
Summary
The Fall of the House of Usher utilizes real-life fears such as body horror, disease, grief, and fate to create a sense of terror and blur the lines between what is real and fantastical. Within the story, the fictional drug Ligodone symbolizes how the pharmaceutical industry exploits consumers for their own financial gain.
The ghosts in the show may symbolize Roderick's guilt, serving as a constant reminder of the moral lines he crossed and his remorse for his shallow ambitions and wrongdoings.
In a crucial scene of The Fall of the House of Usher, Roderick, the head of the Usher family, discloses his condition known as CADASIL, raising an intriguing question – what is the significance of CADASIL in the show's larger narrative? While The Fall of the House of Usher may not be regarded as one of Mike Flanagan's top horror shows in terms of supernatural terrors and jump scares, it effectively evokes fear by exploring real-life horrors related to body deformities, illnesses, grief, and the inevitable destiny.
CADASIL Is A Rare Vascular Disease With Dementia-Like Symptoms
: The utilization of a fictional drug called Ligodone in its primary narrative serves as an effective allegory, shedding light on the exploitative nature of the pharmaceutical industry. Furthermore, in the second episode of Mike Flanagan's The Fall of the House of Usher, a vivid portrayal of acid burns adds a powerful visual element. By employing CADASIL as a narrative device, this Netflix show skillfully blurs the lines between reality and fantasy, leaving a lasting impression that lingers even after the end credits roll.
During a conversation with Auggie, Roderick discloses that he has CADASIL (Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy), a rare vascular cognitive impairment inherited from his mother. Coined in 1993 following the identification of the defective gene responsible for it, CADASIL can lead to symptoms resembling dementia (according to the Alzheimer's Society), impacting one's ability to think, reason, and solve problems. In addition to cognitive decline, CADASIL may also trigger hallucinations, raising questions about whether Roderick's perception of ghosts in The Fall of the House of Usher was influenced by this condition.
Are The Ghosts Roderick Sees In House Of Usher Actually Hallucinations From CADASIL?
In all of his television shows, Mike Flanagan adeptly employs ghosts as intricate narrative tools, discouraging any simplistic interpretations. For example, the bent-neck lady in The Haunting of Hill House initially appears as one of the most terrifying apparitions in the series. However, as the show unfolds, our sympathy grows for her when we learn that she represents Eleanor's tragic fate. Similarly, in The Fall of the House of Usher, the ghosts initially seem like hallucinations caused by Roderick's condition, reflecting the generational trauma resulting from his mother's mistreatment by Mr. Longfellow.
However, a closer examination of the ghosts and their symbolism unveils them as manifestations of Roderick's guilt. The ghost of the Jester serves as a reminder of the moral boundaries he transgressed to attain his current position, while the ghosts of his children symbolize his profound regret for exposing them to his materialistic aspirations, thereby obscuring their true happiness. Moreover, the ghosts in The Fall of the House of Usher can be interpreted as conventional ghosts who consistently humble Roderick whenever he deflects blame onto his external surroundings, failing to acknowledge that the tragic events were consequences of his own misdeeds.
