Rebecca
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What is the novel 'Rebecca' about?
Rebecca, a Gothic suspense novel by Daphne du Maurier, tells the story of a young, unnamed woman who marries the wealthy widower Maximilian (Maxim) de Winter and goes to live with him at his estate, Manderley.
The new Mrs. de Winter becomes increasingly haunted by the legacy of Maxim's deceased first wife, Rebecca, and is made to feel inferior by the sinister housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, who keeps Rebecca's memory alive.
As the story unfolds, secrets and shocking revelations emerge about Rebecca's true nature and the circumstances surrounding her death, leading to a suspenseful climax involving jealousy, murder, and the destruction of Manderley. The novel explores themes of identity, obsession, and the dark secrets that can lie beneath the surface of seemingly perfect lives.
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Who wrote 'Rebecca' and when was it published?
Daphne du Maurier wrote the classic Gothic suspense novel, Rebecca, which was published in 1938. The story unfolds in Cornwall, at a country house called Manderley, and is told through the eyes of the unnamed narrator, the second Mrs. de Winter. She marries the wealthy widower, Maxim de Winter, and becomes increasingly haunted by his deceased first wife, Rebecca. The novel explores themes of jealousy, and the heroine discovers inner strength and confidence.
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Who are the main characters in 'Rebecca'?
Rebecca, a novel by Daphne du Maurier, revolves around several key characters. The unnamed narrator, known as the second Mrs. de Winter, marries the wealthy widower Maximilian (Maxim) de Winter and settles at his estate, Manderley.
Other significant characters include:
* Rebecca, Maxim's deceased first wife, whose presence heavily influences the story.
* Mrs. Danvers, the sinister housekeeper, is obsessed with the late Rebecca and antagonizes the second Mrs. de Winter.
* Jack Favell, Rebeccaâs cousin and lover, who attempts to prove Maxim murdered Rebecca.2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What is the setting of 'Rebecca' and why is it important?
"Rebecca" is set in the wilds of Cornwall, primarily in the imposing country house called Manderley. The evocative setting is integral to the novel's themes and atmosphere. Manderley symbolizes the past and the lingering influence of the deceased Rebecca, dominating the present and casting a shadow over the second Mrs. de Winter.
The physical isolation of Manderley heightens the sense of mystery and suspense, mirroring the narrator's emotional isolation and struggle to find her place in Maxim's life. The contrast between the wild, natural beauty of Cornwall and the artificial grandeur of Manderley underscores the tension between appearance and reality, a central theme in the novel.
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How does the story explore the theme of jealousy?
Rebecca explores jealousy through its unnamed narrator, the second Mrs. de Winter, who is haunted by the idealized memory of Rebecca, Maxim's deceased first wife. The narrator's insecurity is fueled by the sinister housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, who constantly praises Rebecca and emphasizes the second wife's inferiority. This obsession and the narrator's belief that she cannot compete with Rebecca's ghost drive much of the novel's suspense. The story examines how jealousy can warp perceptions and create a sense of inadequacy, influencing the narrator's actions and emotions throughout the novel.
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Why is 'Rebecca' considered a classic and how has it influenced literature or film?
Rebecca, a Gothic suspense novel by Daphne du Maurier, is considered a classic due to its psychological insight and exploration of jealousy, which resonated with many readers. The novel tells the story of a young woman who marries a wealthy widower and becomes obsessed with his deceased first wife, Rebecca. Its suspenseful plot and evocative setting in Cornwall, combined with a first-person narration that keeps the protagonist unnamed, create a compelling and unsettling atmosphere.
Rebecca has been adapted for TV, film, and the stage, with Alfred Hitchcock's 1940 film being the most notable adaptation. The novel's plot and pace are reminiscent of Jane Eyre, but many believe that du Maurier found her own voice as an author with Rebecca.
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Rebecca, Gothic suspense novel by Daphne du Maurier, published in 1938. Widely considered a classic, it is a psychological thriller about a young woman who becomes obsessed with her husbandâs first wife.
Summary
The story is set evocatively in the wilds of Cornwall, in a large country house called Manderley. One of du Maurierâs intriguing devices is her refusal to name her heroine, the first-person narrator, known only as the second Mrs. de Winter. The novel opens with her famously saying, âLast night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.â Much of the story is then told in flashback. A shy, awkward young woman, she is in Monte-Carlo, working for an elderly socialite, when she meets Maximilian (Maxim) de Winter. He is a wealthy widower whose wife, Rebecca, drowned in a sailboat accident. After a whirlwind courtship, the young woman and Maxim marry and later settle at Manderley. The narrator begins to feel progressively inferior to Rebecca, despite receiving compliments from various people. To the second Mrs. de Winter, Rebecca personifies glamour and gaiety, and she does not think that she can compete with this dead paragon to win Maximâs love. Mrs. Danvers, the sinister housekeeper, especially wounds the narrator by constantly mentioning how much Maxim had loved, and would always love, Rebecca.
Suspense builds as the narrator grows both increasingly obsessed with the beautiful first wife and insecure in her marriage. At the annual costume ball at Manderley, the second Mrs. de Winter wears a costume at the encouragement of Mrs. Danvers, not realizing it was similar to one worn by Rebecca shortly before her death. The outfit upsets Maxim, who orders her to change. The narrator later confronts Mrs. Danvers, who says that Maxim does not want her and encourages her to jump out the second-floor window. However, just then rockets are set off as a ship strikes a reef in the nearby bay, and the two women part. Divers soon discover a sunken sailing boat that contains Rebeccaâs body. Maxim then reveals the truth to his second wifeâhe was not in love with Rebecca. She was cruel and manipulative, and soon after their wedding she began having numerous affairs. Fearful of scandal, Maxim agreed to her offer: she would outwardly appear as the perfect wife if he allowed her to live privately as she pleased. However, on the night of her death, she had informed her husband that she was pregnant and that the father was one of her lovers. In a fit of anger, Maxim shot Rebecca and put her body in a sailboat that he then sank. (A body had been found weeks after Rebeccaâs disappearance, and Maxim had identified it as being hers.)
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The heroine subsequently discovers an inner strength and confidence that leads to a shift in power in her marriage. Maxim is seemingly saved when the coroner declares Rebeccaâs death a suicide. However, one of Rebeccaâs lovers, her cousin Jack Favell, tells the magistrate that Maxim murdered Rebecca, and Mrs. Danvers seemingly confirms that the two were having an affair. The magistrate tries to determine why Rebecca would have committed suicide, and it is discovered that she had gone to a London doctor on the day of her death. When the doctor is later questioned, he states that Rebecca was actually infertile and dying of cancer. In the view of the magistrate, this discovery provides a motive for Rebeccaâs suicide, and Maxim is no longer a suspect. A final twist occurs when Mrs. Danvers disappears, and, upon the de Wintersâ return from London, they find Manderley ablaze.
Analysis and adaptations
Among du Maurierâs favourite writers were the BrontĂ« sisters (Emily Charlotte, and Anne), and the plot and pace of Rebecca are reminiscent of Jane Eyre. However, with Rebecca, many believed that du Maurier had found her own voice as an author. She infused the melodramatic tale with great psychological insight and presented a story of jealousy that resonated with many readers. Rebecca was hugely popular upon its publication and was later adapted for TV, film, and the stage. Perhaps its most notable adaptation was Alfred Hitchcockâs Academy Award-winning film (1940) starring Laurence Olivier as the brooding Maxim, Joan Fontaine as his second wife, and Judith Anderson as Mrs. Danvers.