Rebbeca - Daphne Du Maurier

Rebecca

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About the author:

Daphne du Maurier she was born in 1907 into a family with a strongly artistic                                                                                           her father was a famous actor on the London stage. In recognition of her literary

accomplishments, Daphne Du Maurier was named a Dame of the British Empire in 1969

(the female equivalent of being knighted). She died in 1989. She wrote many books of different

sorts during her long lifetime. But Rebecca (first published in 1938) is her most famous novel.

Introduction: many romantic novels tell the story of two different women, but this

novel” Rebecca” is different from the usual novel of this story. Frank by making a comparison

between Rebecca and storyteller, lets us known that Rebecca was not kind, honest and modest,

and Ben describe her as “a snake”. She was using her charm beauty to make people do what she

wants. In Maxim’s word: he described her like “an animal running to its hole a ditch”

Character List:

Maxim de Winter: The intelligent and very attractive man and Rebecca husband, the

owner of Manderley. He dislikes talking about Rebecca,

Rebecca de Winter: Maxim's first wife and the beautiful mistress of Manderley.

Rebecca seems to be the superior to the storyteller in every way. The storyteller concludes that

Maxim is still in love with Rebecca. Eventually, it is revealed that Rebecca was an evil woman

who committed unspeakable atrocities under the guise of her grace and beauty.

Mrs. Danvers: Rebecca's maid and the housekeeper of Manderley. And continues to run the

estate in the same way that she did when Rebecca was alive. Mrs. Danvers reveals an unhealthy

obsession with Rebecca and a determination to punish the storyteller for taking her place.

Jack Favell: Rebecca's cousin and lover. After Rebecca's body is discovered, Favell contends

that Maxim murdered her.

Beatrice Lacy: Maxim's sister. Athletic and outspoken. She gives the storyteller a set of

beautiful art books as a wedding present. Her comment, "You are so very different from

Rebecca,".

Mrs. Van Hopper: A wealthy and gossipy American woman. After she hearing about the

narrator's engagement, Mrs. Van Hopper raises the first doubts in her mind with the warning,

"Personally, I think you are making a big mistake--one that you will bitterly regret."

Frank Crawley: The overseer of Manderley. Known for his loyalty and tact, Frank is one of the

Storyteller sole friends Frank also knew that Maxim had killed Rebecca.

Ben: A mildly retarded man who lives on the Manderley estate. He witnesses Rebecca having an

affair with Jack Favell, but he denies it when interviewed by Colonel Julyan because he fears

that Rebecca will fulfill her promise to send him to an asylum. Ben is the only character to

describe Rebecca in a negative light from the very beginning of the book.

Colonel Julyan: The local magistrate who investigates Rebecca's death.

Dr. Baker: A physician in London who had an appointment with Rebecca on the day of her

death.

Jasper: Maxim's dog and the storyteller favorite.

Frith: The butler at Manderley.

Lady Crowan: A local noblewoman who encourages Maxim and the Storyteller to revive the

fancy dress party at Manderley.

Clarice: The storyteller personal maid. Clarice is also new to Manderley and is the only member

of the staff who makes the storyteller feel comfortable.

Major Giles Lacy: Beatrice's husband and the object of one of Rebecca's many successful

seductions.

Gran: Maxim's grandmother.

James Tabb: The shipbuilder who built and maintained Rebecca's boat.

Robert: The young footman at Manderley.

Alice: The housemaid at Manderley.

Captain Searle: The harbormaster of Kerrith, who informs the storyteller that they have found

Rebecca's boat at the bottom of the bay.

Norah: The parlor-maid for Maxim's grandmother.

Chapters:

1-Maxim de winter: begins with the sentence, "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again."

dreaming, sees herself as a ghost, flitting through the charred ruins of the once-beautiful mansion

Manderley, where she once lived. Maxim de winter said he had never back to Manderley again,

and had hotel in Monte Carlo where he met Mrs. Van Hopper.

2-Manderley: Maxim De Winter back again to monderley in May, he was feared to arrival as

much as he had looked forward it before. and first thing he said when arrived “I see myself now,

badly dressed as usual, Although I had been married for seven weeks”, he said I was like a child

brought to his first school. He said to his new wife haven’t worry about the house Mrs. Danvers

does everything, but it seems Mrs. Danvers didn’t like the second Mr. De Winter.

3-The Cottage in the Bay:  Beatrice Lacy came to visited her brother Mr. De Winter and his

new wife, Mrs. De Winter like her husband sister and loved. Beatrice had a conversation with

new Mrs. De Winter and told her that Mrs. Danvers all dislike her for the being because she

worshipped Rebecca the first wife for her brother. Mrs. Maxim and his wife went out to walk,

when his dog Jasper disappeared, they went to find him and he was in the cottage in the bay, that

what causes the couple to have a little argument.

4-The Shadow of Rebecca:  Mrs. de Winter finds out from Mr. Frank that the cottage was used

by Rebecca for Moonlight bathing, and drowned off the coast. That’s what make Mrs. De Winter