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Rebecca (character in novel)
| [REBECCA] | |
|---|---|
 [Novel] | |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Rebecca de Winter |
| Nickname | Often referred to as the late Mrs De Winter |
| Gender | female |
| Title | Mrs |
| Children | No children born |
| Home | Manderley |
Rebecca de Winter is a character in the Gothic Romance Novel, Rebecca, by Dapnhe du Maurier, published in 1938, she is a main character who has a hold on others characters, despite the fact she is deceased. Rebecca is a character that the reader learns more about as they continue to read through the text, she therefore becomes a figure of mystery both to the narrator, and to the reader until the end of chapter 19, towards the end of the novel. Despite her death being a thing of the past, her character is built up to have hobbies and, is known to be adored by many, making Rebecca a well-rounded character, that will be explain through this page.
Relationships
[edit]Maxim de Winter:
Rebecca was married to Maxim de Winter. The marriage between the two of them, was again a mystery to narrator and to reader the end chapters. This is due to the fact that Rebecca is dead, and also because her husband, who marries the narrator after becoming a widow, refuses to discuss it through most of the novel. Towards the end of the novel, the reader is finally given Maxim’s feelings towards Rebecca and what they are led to believe is the truth about Rebecca and the relationship between her and Maxim. It is revealed that he perceives her as [1] and [2], and described their lives together as a [3].
Mrs Danvers:
Another important relationship of Rebecca was with Mrs Danvers, who’s role is as head housekeeper, she came to Manderley with Rebecca, once she married Maxim. Before then, she was a maid for Rebecca’s family. Referring to Rebecca as [4] in the novel is it clear that Rebecca has a big influence on Mrs Danvers, and her thoughts. This is emphasised further in chapter 14 when she describes how she keeps Rebecca’s belongings in her room exactly how it was left on the night of her death as if [5]. This relationship is important to understand Rebecca’s character more because of the closeness of it. It is clear that there is a love for Rebecca that Mrs Danvers has, and it is also made clear that in life, Rebecca had a trust and respect for Mrs Danvers, as her personal maid and the head housekeeper [6].
Manderley
[edit]Manderley is a house that is owned by Maxim, and before him, his family. However, it is significant in relation to Rebecca because of her hold on the running of the house, even after her death. Small details, such as specific flowers in specific places, is kept how Rebecca once did. For example, during chapter 12 the narrator attempts to move a vase of lilacs from one table in the drawing-room to another, the response to this from Frith [7]. As well as this, her initial, [8], all over Manderley. The influence she has on Manderley is haunting to the narrator, and is telling of Rebecca’s personality, being decisive and particular about such minor detail.
Hobbies
[edit]Another aspect of the character of Rebecca in the novel is what she enjoyed to do, before her death. The reader learns that her hobbies include sailing. However, there is also inference that she likely enjoyed some aspect of design too. This is due to the way she is credited for making Manderley [9]. The hobby mentioned most often though, is the sailing. Partly due to the cottage in the cove where she kept her sailing equipment, and partly because she owned and sailed her own boat, but mainly because, that is how, until Maxims revelation in chapter 19, everyone believes she died.
Notes
[edit]- ^ ‘careless’ Du Maurier, D., 2003. Rebecca. London: Virago Press.p.308
- ^ ‘cunning’ Du Maurier, D., 2003. Rebecca. London: Virago Press.p.309
- ^ ‘life of lies and filth and deceit’ Du Maurier, D., 2003. Rebecca. London: Virago Press. p.311
- ^ ‘the real Mrs de Winter' Du Maurier, D., 2003. Rebecca. London: Virago Press.p.275
- ^ ‘in a minute Rebecca herself would come back into the room’ Du Maurier, D., 2003. Rebecca. London: Virago Press.p.186
- ^ ‘you maid me better than anyone, Danny… I won’t have anyone but you’ Du Maurier, D., 2003. Rebecca. London: Virago Press..189
- ^ ‘Mrs de Winter always had the alabaster vase on the table behind the sofa, Madam’ Du Maurier, D., 2003. Rebecca. London: Virago Press.p.155
- ^ ‘that tall sloping R’ Du Maurier, D., 2003. Rebecca. London: Virago Press.p.97
- ^ 'The Manderley that you see today, the Manderley that people talk about and photograph and paint, its all due to her' Du Maurier, D., 2003. Rebecca. London: Virago Press.p.307
- Bassano, . Du Maurier, Dame Daphne (1907–1989). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved 19 Feb. 2022, from https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-1003387
- Du Maurier, D., Rebecca (London: Virago Press,2003)
- Sivinski, Stacy. “‘An Invention…That Bottled up a Memory, like Scent’: Phantom Fragrances in Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca.” Journal of Gender Studies, vol. 29, no. 8, 2020, pp. 860–869., https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2020.1737512. Accessed 19 Feb. 2022.