The Fall of the House of Usher: What is Madeline tinkering with in the basement?

Madeline Usher, one of the main characters in the episode "The Pit and the Pendulum" of The Fall of the House of Usher, is shown to be tinkering with something in the basement. The exact nature of her activity is not explicitly stated in the summary, leaving it open to interpretation.Given the context of the episode and the themes explored in the series, it is possible that Madeline is experimenting with artificial intelligence (AI). She meets with Arthur Pym to discuss her plans to pivot Fortunato Pharmaceuticals towards a new world of AI and virtual immortality. Madeline sees this as an opportunity to take control of the company and move away from the addictive drugs that have tarnished the Usher family's reputation.In the basement, Madeline may be working on developing advanced AI technology. This aligns with her desire for power and her pursuit of immortality. By integrating AI into Fortunato, Madeline hopes to ensure her own legacy and create a new form of life that transcends the limitations of human mortality.Madeline's involvement with Verna, the mysterious woman who brings destruction to the Usher family, suggests that her tinkering in the basement may also involve some sort of pact or agreement. The terms of this agreement are unclear, but they seem to involve death. Madeline attempts to amend the terms and even tries to kill Verna, but she fails. This could imply that Madeline's experimentation in the basement is connected to bringing about or escaping from death itself.Furthermore, the mention of Madeline enlisting Lenore's help in her immortality project through AI raises the possibility that Madeline is tinkering with transferring human consciousness into artificial bodies or creating AI replicas of individuals. This would tie in with the theme of virtual immortality and the exploration of the boundaries between life and death.In conclusion, Madeline's activities in the basement remain a mysterious aspect of the episode. However, given the themes and plotlines of the series, it is likely that she is tinkering with AI technology, potentially exploring the realms of immortality and the manipulation of life and death. The specifics of her experiments and their ultimate consequences are yet to be fully revealed, leaving viewers with a sense of intrigue and anticipation for the next episode.