With the mesmerizing Manderley estate as a backdrop, a young woman's whirlwind romance unfolds into an unconventional fairy tale.
At first glance, Daphne du Maurier’s novel Rebecca appears as yet another love story set in England in the late 1930s, starring a wide-eyed damsel in distress longing to be engulfed by a whirlwind romance. Surprisingly this narrative presents the unconventional tale of an unnamed narrator haunted by the ghostly presence of her husband’s deceased first wife, Rebecca.
An Unlikely Fairy Tale
After an impromptu marriage proposal, the innocent narrator is whisked away to the exquisite estate of Manderley, where she embarks on her exciting life as the new Mrs. Maxim de Winter. Enamored with the glamourous lifestyle, the young woman envisions her married life to recreate her most cherished romantic fantasies; but on the contrary, the walls of Manderley hide many sombre secrets challenging the mansion’s idyllic image.
Playing the Part
Rebecca’s past role as lady of the house weighs heavy on the young lady’s mind. Quite aware that she doesn’t have her enchanting charm and elegance, the narrator is constantly reminded of her own inadequacy as Mrs. Danvers, the housekeeper, overwhelms her with fond memories of the deceased woman and an eerie display of Rebecca’s belongings.
So Many Secrets
As the months go by the narrator comes to realize that the beloved Rebecca was far from perfect and Max, whom she believed to be her knight in shining armor, buried many shameful secrets of his own. One by one, other secrets surface and the protagonist’s utopia is gradually destroyed.
Suspense and Mystery
By incorporating suspense and mystery Du Maurier’s tale is captivating and maintains a steady pace throughout the narrative. The vivid imagery and detailed description of the surroundings provide the readers with a colourful backdrop. Without a doubt, despite being inactive in the story, Rebecca’s character is well-woven and the most riveting of all the novel’s characters.
Related Works
Rebecca is a novel to discover and will keep its readers guessing until the very last page. The narrative is said to have been partially inspired by Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre and those familiar with this novel will find themselves drawing comparisons between both plots and characters. And for those wanting more Susan Hill published the sequel Mrs de Winter and Sally Beauman released Rebecca’s Tale, the narrative of four characters whose lives were deeply affected by the former Mrs de Winter. Moreover a film adaptation of the novel, starring Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine, was released in 1940 and won two Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Cinematography.
Du Maurier, Daphne. Rebecca. London : Virago Press, 2006. ISBN 1-84408-038-2
