Madeline Usher is a fictional character from Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Fall of the House of Usher." She is the twin sister of Roderick Usher and is portrayed as a mysterious and tragic figure. Madeline suffers from a mysterious illness that leaves her in a catatonic state, leading to her eventual burial while still alive. In the story, her return from the grave serves as a pivotal moment, symbolizing the decay of the Usher family and their ancestral home. Madeline's character embodies themes of death, madness, and the supernatural, which are central to Poe's work.