He is seen for the first time lying on a sofa and welcoming the narrator with sincere and frank joy. The narrator is horrified by Roderick's appearance. The phrases he uses to describe Roderick are “A cadaverous complexion,” “lips a little thin and very pale,” and “a large, liquid, luminous eye beyond compare.” The narrator states that these are extreme changes in Roderick's appearance, suggesting that Roderick once had healthy features. When the narrator sees Usher for the first time, he is shocked by how much he has changed in his appearance. He says, “Surely a man had never been so terribly altered.” He was pale as a corpse with very noticeable large eyes and his hair had grown out and had not been looked after for a while, along with his "horrible" skin. the tone shocked the narrator. Usher also seemed very nervous and agitated. Although he had been prepared for Usher's nervousness, the narrator was totally unprepared for how horrible his childhood friend was now.