Complete Guide to 'Rebecca'

Overview

• Rebecca is a gothic novel written by Daphne du Maurier and set in the early 20th century, telling the story of a young, unnamed narrator who marries Maxim de Winter, the owner of the grand estate Manderley.
• The novel explores the lingering presence of Maxim's first wife, Rebecca, whose memory continues to dominate the lives of those at Manderley.
• Through a blend of romance, mystery, and psychological depth, du Maurier delves into themes of identity, power, and the destructive nature of secrets.

Plot Summary

• The novel begins with the narrator recalling her time at Manderley, haunted by the memory of Rebecca.
• The narrative shifts to her time as a companion to Mrs Van Hopper in Monte Carlo, where she meets Maxim de Winter.
• After a swift courtship, they marry, and she becomes the new Mrs de Winter.
• However, upon arriving at Manderley, she finds herself overshadowed by Rebecca's memory, perpetuated by the sinister housekeeper, Mrs Danvers.
• As the story progresses, the narrator learns more about Rebecca's true nature, revealing a complex web of deceit, manipulation, and tragedy.
• The climax occurs when Rebecca's sunken boat is discovered, leading Maxim to confess that he killed Rebecca because of her cruelty and manipulation.
• The novel ends with the destruction of Manderley, symbolising the end of Rebecca's influence.

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Key Moments

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Opening Scene: The Narrator's Dream of Manderley

• The novel opens with the narrator's dream of Manderley, establishing a haunting and nostalgic tone.
• The description, "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again," introduces the reader to the themes of memory and loss, as well as the looming presence of the estate, which symbolises the past's inescapable grip on the narrator.

Meeting Maxim de Winter in Monte Carlo

• The narrator's encounter with Maxim in Monte Carlo sets the stage for their relationship and the mysteries surrounding his past. Maxim's enigmatic nature is highlighted when he says, "I'm asking you to marry me, you little fool."
• This moment foreshadows the power dynamics and secrets that will define their marriage.

The Costume Ball

• During Manderley's annual costume ball, the narrator is manipulated by Mrs Danvers into wearing a dress identical to one worn by Rebecca.
• Maxim's reaction, "What the hell do you think you are doing?" reveals the deep-seated trauma and unresolved issues regarding Rebecca's memory, marking a turning point in the narrator's perception of her marriage. **

Maxim's Confession

• Maxim's confession about Rebecca's death is a pivotal moment that shifts the narrative from mystery to psychological drama.
• He admits, "Rebecca has won... her shadow between us all the time," revealing the extent of Rebecca's influence and the dark truth behind their marriage, fundamentally altering the narrator's understanding of her role in Maxim's life.

Closing Scene: The Burning of Manderley

• The novel ends with Manderley in flames, symbolising the destruction of the past and the final release from Rebecca's shadow.
• The narrator reflects, "The sky above our heads was inky black. But the sky on the horizon was not dark at all. It was shot wit crimson, like a splash of blood." capturing the novel's theme of renewal through destruction, as they leave the ruins of Manderley behind.

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Characters

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The Narrator (Second Mrs de Winter)

• The narrator evolves from a shy, insecure young woman into someone who begins to assert her identity, though she is constantly overshadowed by Rebecca.

  

• Her lack of a name signifies her struggle for identity. She reflects, "I am Mrs. de Winter now, you know." marking her gradual acceptance of her new role despite the ever-present comparison to Rebecca.

Maxim de Winter

• Maxim is a complex character, torn between his love for Manderley and the trauma of his first marriage to Rebecca.
• His brooding nature is captured in his behaviour, "'We are happy, aren't we? Terribly happy?' He did not answer. He went on staring out of the window while I held his hands." which reveals him being torn between opening up to the narrator and remaining emotionally closed off.

Rebecca de Winter

• Though deceased, Rebecca is a dominant presence in the novel.
• She is remembered as glamorous and perfect, but the truth reveals her as manipulative and cruel.
• Maxim describes her with, "She was vicious, damnable, rotten through and through," underscoring the novel's theme of the difference between appearance and reality.

Mrs Danvers

• The housekeeper at Manderley, Mrs Danvers is obsessively loyal to Rebecca and embodies the Gothic antagonist.
• She manipulates the narrator, pushing her towards despair. Her chilling advice, "Why don't you jump now and have done with it?" epitomises her malevolent influence and deep grief for Rebecca.

Jack Favell

• Rebecca's cousin and lover, Jack Favell is a sinister character who seeks to exploit the situation at Manderley for his own gain.
• His brashness and lack of morals are evident when he says, "Now if I had a settlement of two or three thousand a year for life I could jog along comfortably. And I'd never trouble you again," threatening Maxim and the narrator as he tries to blackmail them.

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Main Themes

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Identity and Self-Perception

• The novel explores the narrator's struggle with her identity, especially in relation to Rebecca's enduring influence.
• Her lack of a name symbolises her initial lack of self-worth, but as she grows, she begins to assert herself, seen in her declaration, "I am Mrs de Winter now."
• This theme is central to the narrator's journey of self-discovery and the rejection of Rebecca's overpowering legacy.

Power and Control

• Power dynamics are crucial in Rebecca, particularly in the relationships between characters.
• Mrs Danvers exercises psychological control over the narrator, while Rebecca's memory exerts a powerful influence over Manderley and Maxim.
• The narrator exemplifies the power dynamic best in her crestfallen statement: "She called him Max, and I had to call him Maxim".

Deception and Secrets

• Deception runs throughout the novel, from the façade of Rebecca's perfect life to Maxim's concealment of the truth about her death.
• The tension between appearance and reality is epitomised in the contrast between Rebecca's public persona and her private cruelty.
• Maxim's confession, "Our marriage was a farce from the very first," reveals the extent of the deceit that shapes the narrative.

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Literary Techniques

Technique	Explanation/Example
Gothic Atmosphere	Du Maurier uses Gothic elements like the eerie setting of Manderley and the mysterious, brooding character of Maxim to create a sense of suspense and foreboding.
Unreliable Narrator	The narrator's insecurities and lack of knowledge about Rebecca contribute to her unreliable perspective, creating tension and keeping the reader in suspense.
Symbolism	Manderley itself is a symbol of the past's inescapable influence, while Rebecca's possessions and the sea represent her lingering presence and the secrets of the estate.
Foreshadowing	The novel is rich with foreshadowing, such as the ominous opening dream of Manderley and the recurring references to Rebecca's boat, which hint at the truth of her death.
First-Person Perspective	The first-person narrative allows readers to experience the narrator's psychological journey and her evolving understanding of herself and those around her.

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General Vision and Viewpoint (GVV)

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Rebecca presents a complex GVV that oscillates between despair and hope, largely influenced by the protagonist's journey from insecurity to self-assertion.

Tone and Mood:

• The novel's mood is initially one of foreboding and tension, with the narrator feeling increasingly inadequate and isolated due to Rebecca's looming presence.
• The narrator laments: "I realise, every day, that things I lack, confidence, grace, beauty, intelligence, wit – Oh, all the qualities that mean most in a woman – she possessed"
• The tone shifts towards a more hopeful perspective once the truth about Rebecca is revealed, allowing the narrator to assert her identity.

Relationships:

• The strained relationship between the narrator and Maxim is central to the GVV.
• Initially, their relationship is marked by emotional distance, largely due to Maxim's secrets and the narrator's insecurities.
• As they confront the truth together, their bond strengthens, though it remains tinged with the scars of their past experiences.
• This is particularly evident in their increase in intimacy near the end of the book: "We began to kiss one another, feverishly, desperately, like guilty lovers who have not kissed before."

Hope and Despair:

• The novel presents both hope and despair. The destruction of Manderley can be seen as both the loss of a grand estate and the liberation from a past that has haunted the characters.

"The road to Manderley lay ahead. There was no moon. The sky above our heads was inky black. But the sky on the horizon was not dark at all. It was shot with crimson, like a splash of blood. And the ashes blew towards us with the salt wind from the sea."

• The ending is ambiguous, reflecting the complex interplay of hope and despair in the novel's GVV.

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Cultural Context

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The cultural context of Rebecca is rooted in the societal norms and expectations of early 20th-century England, particularly regarding class, gender roles, and the lingering influence of the past.

Class Distinctions

• The novel explores the rigid class structures of the time, particularly through the contrast between the narrator's modest background and the aristocratic world of Manderley.
• The Narrator speaks about Mrs Danvers:

"I could see she despised me, marking with all the snobbery of her class that I was no great lady, that I was humble, shy, and different."

• The social hierarchy is evident in the interactions between the de Winters and the estate's staff, as well as in the societal expectations placed on the narrator as the new Mrs de Winter.

Gender Roles

• The novel reflects the gender norms of the period, where women were often defined by their relationships with men and their roles within the household.

"I wished we could have been one with them, perhaps their neighbours, and that Maxim could lean over a cottage gate in the evenings, smoking a pipe, proud of a very tall hollyhock he had grown himself, while I bustled in my kitchen, clean as a pin, laying the table for supper."

• The narrator's struggle to assert her identity against the overwhelming presence of Rebecca highlights the limited agency afforded to women.

Power Dynamics

• The power dynamics within Rebecca are heavily influenced by cultural expectations. Rebecca's manipulation and control over those around her, even after death, exemplify the dark side of power in a patriarchal society.

"I knew then that I was no longer afraid of Rebecca…She could not hurt me…Rebecca's power had dissolved into the air, like the mist had done. She would never haunt me again"

• Similarly, Maxim's authority as the head of Manderley is both a privilege and a burden, leading to his ultimate moral and psychological crisis.

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Theme or Issue

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Identity

• The novel explores the narrator's struggle to establish her identity in the shadow of Rebecca, whose lingering presence at Manderley constantly undermines her.
• Rebecca's identity as the ideal wife and hostess is both a societal construct and a facade, contrasting sharply with the narrator's journey toward self-discovery.
• The narrator expresses her insecurity: "I'm gauche and awkward, I dress badly, I'm shy with people."

Power and Control

• Power dynamics play a crucial role in the novel, particularly in the relationships between characters.
• Mrs Danvers wields psychological power over the narrator, while Rebecca, even in death, exerts a haunting control over those at Manderley.
• Mrs Dancer says: "She's still mistress here, even if she is dead" The theme of power is also evident in the narrator's initial powerlessness and her gradual assertion of control over her own life.

Secrets and Deception

• The novel is built on layers of secrets and deception, from Rebecca's true nature and Maxim's actions to the narrator's internal struggle with her sense of self.
• The revelation of these secrets is central to the plot, driving the narrative towards its dramatic conclusion.
• Regarding the mysterious cottage by the sea, Maxim says: "I never go near the bloody place, or that God-damned cottage. And if you had my memories you would not want to go there either, or talk about it, or even think about it"
• The destructive impact of these secrets on the characters' lives underscores the novel's darker themes.

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Literary Genre

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Unreliable First-Person Narrator

• Told from the second Mrs de Winter's perspective, her insecurities and emotional state shape and often distort the narrative.
• Her namelessness intensifies her sense of anonymity and reflects societal constraints.

Bildungsroman

• The novel traces the narrator's journey from insecurity to self-discovery.
• She matures as she confronts the truth about Rebecca and gains a stronger sense of identity.

Gothic Elements

• Rebecca features a mysterious setting, haunted characters, and themes of death and the supernatural.
• Manderley's isolated location and Rebecca's lingering influence create a Gothic atmosphere.

Symbolism

• Manderley symbolises the past and the lingering legacy of Rebecca.
• The sea and hidden passages represent mystery and the secrets of the estate.

Suspense Genre

• The novel builds suspense through the gradual revelation of secrets.
• Rebecca's true nature and the mystery surrounding her death drive the plot.