Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca (1938) is a classic Gothic novel filled with mystery, romance, and psychological suspense. The story is told through the eyes of an unnamed young woman who marries a wealthy widower, Maxim de Winter, and struggles to escape the shadow of his glamorous and dead wife, Rebecca.
A Sudden
Romance
- The narrator is a shy, inexperienced young
woman working as a companion to a rich American woman.
- In Monte Carlo, she meets and quickly
marries the mysterious and wealthy Maxim de Winter, whose first
wife, Rebecca, died a year earlier in a boating accident.
- After the honeymoon, Maxim brings her to Manderley,
his grand estate in England.
Life at
Manderley
- At Manderley, the new Mrs. de Winter feels
out of place and constantly compared to Rebecca, who was beautiful,
confident, and admired by everyone.
- The sinister housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers,
idolizes Rebecca and cruelly undermines the new bride’s confidence.
- The new Mrs. de Winter becomes
increasingly haunted by Rebecca’s lingering presence and influence.
The Mystery
Deepens
- Strange events and the cold atmosphere at
Manderley unsettle the narrator.
- Mrs. Danvers tries to break her mentally
and even suggests suicide.
- A costume ball ends in disaster when Mrs.
Danvers tricks her into dressing like Rebecca.
- Soon after, a sunken boat is found—with Rebecca’s
body inside, contradicting Maxim’s story of her drowning.
The Truth
About Rebecca
- Maxim confesses that he never loved
Rebecca—in fact, he hated her.
- Their marriage was a sham; Rebecca was
manipulative, cruel, and unfaithful.
- On the night of her death, they argued,
and Maxim accidentally killed her. He placed her body in the boat and sank
it.
- The narrator, instead of being horrified,
feels relief and deepens her love for Maxim.
The Inquest
and Final Twist
- An inquest is held, and Maxim’s story is
nearly exposed, but he narrowly escapes blame.
- Rebecca’s cousin (and lover), Jack
Favell, tries to blackmail Maxim, but fails.
- It’s revealed Rebecca may have wanted to
die—she had been terminally ill and provoked Maxim deliberately.
The Ending
- Maxim and his wife return to
Manderley—only to find it burning, presumably set on fire by Mrs.
Danvers.
- The novel ends with the destruction of
Manderley, symbolizing the end of Rebecca’s haunting legacy.
Themes in the
Novel:
- Identity and Insecurity:
The narrator’s lack of self-worth contrasts with Rebecca’s powerful
presence.
- Memory and the Past:
Rebecca’s influence persists long after her death.
- Love vs. Obsession:
Romantic love is tainted by secrecy and guilt.
- Power and Control:
Rebecca’s dominance and Mrs. Danvers' manipulation show how control shapes
relationships.
Conclusion:
Rebecca is a psychological thriller wrapped in
Gothic romance. With its iconic opening line — “Last night I dreamt I went
to Manderley again” — the novel explores how the past can haunt the
present, and how identity can be shaped or shattered by others’ memories.
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