Rebeccca

Novels, in general, present us fictitious stories with a plot and suspense that encourage us to continue reading. But Rebecca, this classic, suspenseful, and romantic novel written by the Daphne du Maurier, does more than that, it also takes to a fictitious world without realizing that we are in it and believe that we are reading a true story because we will see how experience most often changes people’s thoughts, beliefs, words and actions both temporary and throughout their lives. It is the engrossed, drastic, tragic, and emotional chronicle of how the memory of the late Rebecca haunts and changes the lives of the newlyweds Maxim and Mrs. De Winter, and also their estate: Manderley. "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again." Perhaps it is one of the most powerful opening lines, in all of literature. The story opens with an insecure, young and a simple timid servant girl in Monte Carlo, France, who meets in a Hotel and falls deeply in love with Maxim, the wealthy man who owns Manderley, just outside London, however, when she becomes the new Mrs. De Winter, her life changes drastically. Now only she has now entered a new and unknown society as and become part of the elite class of society, but also has to face and cope with the many responsibilities and live up to the expectations imposed on her as the new wife of the wealthy and famous Mr. Maxim De Winter. Mrs. De Winter is the narrator in this novel. Her life has been altered by this experience and she became worldly, more confident woman, nevertheless the process was gradual. In the beginning of the novel, the narrator has unrealistic romantic fantasies of her and Maxim. However, following Maxim's unique way of extending a marriage proposal, the reality of the situation begins to dawn on her: 'And he went on eating his marmalade as though everything were natural. In books men knelt to women, and it was moonlight. Not at breakfast, not like this.' This is where Mrs. De Winter changes. What she has learned about love are based on works of fiction, But her ideas of loved are quashed as her romantic expectations are not fulfilled. Although her unblemished perception of love begins to rumble in this instance, it is rebuilt later by the love that she and Maxim share. Maxim, for his part, is having a somewhat different experience with the narrator. In the beginning of the novel, he is not looking for a romantic involvement but for companionship. The experience of being close to a woman- or a human being, after his self-imposed isolation after Rebecca's death, changes Maxim. Maxim would take Mrs. De Winter for a drive in his car, he would tell her of Manderley, the sun setting and the nearby sea, so to state that Manderley is the most precious thing to him in the entire world at the moment and it is an honor to share this with the narrator, Mrs. De Winter. This time spent with the Mrs. De Winter has changed him. He realizes that he needed companionship and perhaps unconditional love, both of which could be attained by marrying the young hotel servant. Since they got married abroad, the new Mrs. De Winter had to be introduced to the staff after the marriage, the staff was friend and they welcome her except for Mrs. Danvers who had been the personal maid of the late Rebecca. Mrs. Danvers is constantly comparing the new Mrs. De Winter to the late Mrs. de Winter, and this makes the new Mrs. de Winter quite uncomfortable, as Mrs. Danvers makes each day a challenge to survive, life a living hell since she was being distanced her from her husband, who she believes is still thinking of Rebecca, and still in love with Rebecca. But out of love for his new wife, finally Maxim reveals the secret of Rebecca’s death. He tells his wife the truth: Rebecca didn't drown to her death, but he murdered her. Instead of the angel she was perceived to be, she was rather a devil, who cheated on him with her first cousin, and never loved him from the start. Soon Rebecca’s body was found on the shores. There are suspicions that Maxim killed her, and an investigation started right away, they almost caught Maxim, but his name is eventually cleared. As he and Mrs. de Winter return from the inquest in London, they watched Manderley burn to the ground. Mrs. De Winter’s modest character is the first appealing aspect of the classic. Her manner is very humble and reserved. She is not the authoritative type of person, as she doesn't do what pleases her, only others , one example: “ Oh, well . . . let me see, Mrs. Danvers, I hardly know; I think we had better have what you usually have, whatever you think Mrs. de Winter would have ordered. She is also very young in the story, young enough to be Maxim's daughter. This explains her shyness in conversations with Maxim's relatives and many of his friends, as well as her feeling of inferiority to people of better breeding than her. Mrs. De Winter is a developing character in the novel, and she is much altered when Maxim reveals the truth of Rebecca's death. Her naive and young nature is gone as she is entangled in the web of Rebecca's evil ways, and Maxim realizes that her innocence is now gone: “I can't forget what it has done to you, exclaimed Mr. De Winter, …It's gone forever, that funny, young, lost look that I loved . . . I killed that too, when I told you about Rebecca . . . you are so much older . . .” But Mrs. de Winter never lost her feelings of hope, and optimism through the novel, it is that sense of positivity that keeps the character going through the novel. Faith and Hope and Optimism have helped her in looking always in the bright side of things and situations, especially regarding her marriage with Maxim. She had faith that in time, Maxim would love her as she loved him, and of course he had all along, but she did not realize that. It had only been her feelings of insecurity that inhibited her from realizing this. She was always willing to mend their marital problems: “It's not too late . . . I love you more than anything in the world.” It is interesting that the novel never mentions a first name for Mrs. De Winter, but her character is the most intriguing and interesting. Setting was of particular interest, because it enhanced the events which took place. Manderley is probably the most appropriate place for Rebecca. The narrator paints a perfect picture of an elegant and romantic mansion surrounded by mystery, adding a lot of interest. Manderley is a beautiful mansion with by a breath-taking garden and a scenic beach: “A thing of grace and beauty, exquisite and faultless, lovelier than I had ever dreamed . . . mossy lawns, the terraces sloping to the gardens, and the gardens to the sea.” The setting is the key to understand the story, because of the way Rebecca died. She was supposed to drown in the waters by Manderley, and without a beach in the story, this wouldn't have been possible. Rebecca’s secret life was effective in this setting, because it showed how Maxim wanted to separate his past life with Rebecca from his new life with Mrs. de Winter. Maxim ordered the rooms in the west wing of the mansion to be locked up, because that is where Rebecca stayed. All parts of Manderly play an important role in the story. For example the beautiful garden takes an active role when Mrs. de Winter is taking Jasper, the dog for a walk; and when she and Maxim are enjoying their tea outside. The setting of the estate of Manderley surely gives interest to the plot. A final literary aspect that was enjoyable was the point of view. Mrs. de Winter is the narrator in Rebecca, and this adds a special insight to the events which took place, from her position as the new Mrs. de Winter. In reading the book, we experience the events alongside her. In her first days at Manderley, it seems a learning experience for readers as well as Mrs. de Winter. Truly, in Rebecca, Maxim and Mrs. De Winter have had life changing experience. The novel 'Rebecca' shows us how experience often changes people. The reader follows the narrator's evolvement from an insecure, shy girl to one who is confident, strong and loving. The author also shows Maxim's internal struggle against 'darkness' and his overcoming of it through finding love. By the end of the novel, Maxim is a caring and loving person, a contrast to the moody, brooding character portrayed in the first half of the novel. These developments have only occurred because of the harsh experiences that both characters have encountered. Now they appear to be stronger people for it. In conclusion, texts do show us that experience often changes people. This is so because literature reflects reality. Conditioning is inescapable as our experiences mold us into the people that we are today.