A note on Rebecca

 A note on Rebecca

Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier's 1938 Gothic novel, centers on a young unnamed woman who marries Maxim de Winter and struggles with the shadow of his glamorous first wife at Manderley estate.

Main Characters

• The Narrator (Second Mrs. de Winter): A shy, insecure companion to Mrs. Van Hopper who impulsively marries Maxim; she battles self-doubt amid Rebecca's haunting legacy.

• Maxim de Winter: Wealthy, brooding owner of Manderley, tormented by his failed marriage to Rebecca, whom he reveals as cruel and unfaithful.

• Rebecca de Winter: The deceased first wife, idealized as beautiful and sophisticated but actually manipulative with multiple lovers.

• Mrs. Danvers: Sinister housekeeper fiercely loyal to Rebecca, who torments the narrator and tries to undermine her.
  
  
  Supporting roles include Jack Favell (Rebecca's scheming cousin) and Frank Crawley (estate manager).

Plot Summary

A nameless young woman marries Maxim after a Monte Carlo romance and arrives at Manderley, where Rebecca's presence dominates via portraits, rooms, and Mrs. Danvers' manipulations.

Tensions peak during a costume ball and the discovery of Rebecca's boat with her body, sparking an inquest; Maxim confesses he shot her during a confrontation over her affairs and terminal illness.

The verdict rules suicide after revelations from Dr. Baker, but Manderley burns—symbolizing escape from the past—as the couple flees.