Question

What are Rodericks reasons for placing Madeline in the vault below the house

Answer 1

In Edgar Allan Poe's story "The Fall of the House of Usher", Roderick believes his sister Madelin, who suffers from a disease that puts her into a cataleptic state, has died. Therefore, with the aid of his visitor --the narrator of the story-- he takes her to an underground vault and puts her in a coffin. However, this burial has been premature, and after a long, desperate struggle to escape the grave, Madelin makes an appearance in Roderick's room.