The Enigmatic Tale of Queen Twosret in House of Usher: Unraveling Roderick's Mysterious Gift of Sapphire Eyes

Spoilers for Netflix's The Fall of the House of Usher finale ahead.

Some discussion of the series' gruesome deaths ahead.

Summary

Madeline Usher's association with Egyptian pharaohs and mythology aligns her with the story of Queen Twosret, an intriguing and lesser-known female ruler of Ancient Egypt.

The way Roderick says goodbye to Madeline, drawing inspiration from Egyptian burial customs and incorporating sapphires, is a symbolic representation instead of being historically precise in the series. Even though sapphires were not particularly linked to Queen Twosret, their symbolic associations with wealth, protection, and the desire for immortality add depth to Madeline's character development.

In the conclusion of Netflix's The Fall of the House of Usher, Roderick escorts Madeline into the afterlife, attributing her sapphire eyes to the Egyptian Queen Twosret and linking her throughout the miniseries to ancient pharaohs and Egyptian mythology. This climactic moment occurs in the final episode, "The Raven," where Roderick shares his story with Auggie amidst recurring interruptions from mysterious noises originating from the basement, which Roderick dismisses as Madeline's doing.

With the entire Usher family deceased, Roderick and Madeline, both deeply troubled, recognize their impending fate as they await Verna's arrival to fulfill their long-standing agreement. In a final act of treachery, Roderick poisons Madeline's drink after they share a final toast to their lives. Unhinged, Roderick chooses to give Madeline a grandiose burial befitting a "queen," insisting she will live on forever. However, similar to their mother, Madeline proves resilient to death. Emerging partially mummified from the basement, she avenges herself by killing Roderick just as their childhood home collapses around them.

The True Story Of The Egyptian Pharaoh Twosret Explained

In "The Raven," the final episode of Netflix's The Fall of the House of Usher, Roderick draws a comparison between Madeline and the Egyptian Pharaoh Twosret. Twosret, the last ruler of Egypt's nineteenth dynasty, was one of the few women to rule Ancient Egypt. Despite being lesser known than Nefertiti, Twosret has an equally intriguing story, which makes her the ideal counterpart to Madeline Usher. As the wife of Seti II, Twosret is said to have helped strengthen her husband's claim to the throne, possibly due to her relation to Ramesses II. Notably, Twosret was among the few women granted a tomb in the Valley of the Kings. Following Seti II's death, a young boy named Siptah became king, with Twosret acting as regent. Chancellor Bay, an advisor who also desired a tomb in the Valley of the Kings, assisted Twosret in this role. While recent research suggests that Twosret may have ruled for around ten years, it is widely accepted that her actual reign as queen was likely only a few years. The tale of Queen Twosret's pursuit of power aligns perfectly with Madeline Usher.

Roderick's Story About Queen Twosret's Sapphire Eyes Was Fictional

Before Madeline realizes Roderick drugged her drink, she questions why her brother brought her belongings into the decaying basement of their family's home. With conviction, Roderick refers to their house as their "tomb" and insists that they require all these possessions for the afterlife. This is not the first instance of Ancient Egyptian references in The Fall of the House of Usher. Madeline's office is adorned with stolen artifacts, particularly focusing on Egyptian death rituals. A sarcophagus is concealed beneath her glass desk. Despite never having children, it is evident that Madeline Usher desires eternal life through artificial intelligence or other means.

In the basement of their ancestral home, Roderick addresses his incapacitated sister as a queen. He assures her that she will live forever. Surrounded by tools once employed in mummification ceremonies, Roderick proceeds with his task, despite his lack of expertise. He removes Madeline's eyes and replaces them with sapphires that he claims belonged to Queen Twosret. However, historical evidence suggests that jewels were not inserted into eye sockets during mummification, and there is no record of Queen Twosret owning sapphires. Nevertheless, the conclusion of The Fall of the House of Usher depicts Roderick Usher's clumsy farewell as more symbolic rather than factual.

Sapphires Have Been Associated With Wealth & Desires For Eternal Life

Although Queen Twosret has no known connections to sapphires, this precious gem still holds historical and symbolic significance. It is believed that during Twosret's reign, Egypt conducted expeditions to turquoise mines in Sinai and Palestine, although turquoise and sapphires have distinct meanings and characteristics. Nonetheless, it is more likely that Mike Flanagan invented the fictional sapphires of Twosret due to the gem's enduring symbolic connotations, which can vary greatly depending on different time periods and cultures.

Sapphires were first discovered by the Western world during the height of Ancient Rome. It was believed that these gemstones offered protection against eye problems and melancholy, a belief which historical figures like Mary Queen of Scots practiced. Throughout history and across different cultures, the meanings attributed to sapphires have shifted. Early Christians believed that sapphires symbolized heaven and their yearning for eternal life. In the Bible, sapphires are often associated with divinity and royalty. It appears that Flanagan was most inspired by the Judeo-Christian connotations of the stone.

How Madeline's Queen Twosret & Cleopatra Comparisons Foreshadowed Her House Of Usher Fate

Not much is known about Queen Twosret's life or death, but what is known is closely related to Madeline Usher's story in the Netflix series. Madeline, along with Arthur Pym (played by Mark Hamill) who portrays Chancellor Bay, functions as a regent queen. While Roderick claims to have knowledge of their pact with Verna, it is evident from the beginning that Madeline Usher is the one behind the scenes. When their father passes away, Madeline seeks to place Roderick on the Fortunato throne. Despite orchestrating Rufus Griswold's demise and transforming him into the haunting jester in "Fall of the House of Usher," Madeline herself does not seize control of Fortunato.

Instead, Roderick, the head of the Usher family, assumes Griswold's position, due to Madeline's efforts, since he has a stronger claim. As Roderick's health declines throughout the series, Madeline exerts more influence but merely as a regent. Similar to Queen Twosret, she never truly ascends the throne, at least not for a significant period. Verna frequently compares Madeline to Cleopatra, a doomed figure from Egyptian history. Like Cleopatra, Madeline is ambitious and powerful, but she is also unable to escape her tragic fate in the final moments of "Fall of the House of Usher."

Sources: Ancient Egypt Online, Google Arts & Culture, Oxford Academic, National Museums Scotland, The Natural Sapphire Company