Student Question
What special connection does Roderick claim to share with Madeline?
Quick answer:
Roderick Usher claims a special connection with his sister Madeline by revealing they are twins in Edgar Allan Poe's story. He describes their bond as sharing "sympathies of a scarcely intelligible nature," suggesting a deep, nonverbal understanding between them. This connection is emphasized by their "striking similitude" and is further complicated by Madeline's death from a mysterious illness, hinting at shared symptoms or Roderick's fears for his own mental health.
In Edgar Allan Poe’s story, the narrator visits Roderick Usher in his home. He learns that Madeline, Roderick’s sister, has recently died. Roderick gets the narrator to help with temporarily interring her body until he can arrange for a proper burial. As they look at her body in the casket, the narrator notices the strong resemblance (“striking similitude”) between brother and sister, although he does not comment on it.
At this point, Usher seems to read his mind and tells him that he and Madeline were twins. They had always shared thoughts that did not need verbal expression, what he calls “sympathies of a scarcely intelligible nature.” Because Madeline has died of an illness of “unusual character,” which the narrator calls “cataleptical” or related to mental disease, by extension Roderick can be implying that he has the same symptoms or fears for his sanity.
Get Ahead with eNotes
Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.
Already a member? Log in here.