Rebecca

Title: Rebecca

Author: Daphne du Maurier

Published in: 1938

Date read: 19th August 2021

Score: 5/5

Genre: Classic, Thriller, Fiction

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier, published in 1938, is a classic gothic psychological thriller and a compelling study of jealousy, identity, and the haunting power of the past. It is famously narrated by an unnamed young woman who becomes obsessed with her predecessor.

The story begins with the unnamed narrator, a shy, naïve, and socially awkward young woman working as a paid companion to a wealthy American in Monte Carlo. There, she meets the distinguished, enigmatic, and recently widowed aristocrat, Maxim de Winter. Despite their vastly different social standings and ages, Maxim proposes, and the narrator, captivated by his charm and the promise of escaping her dreary life, accepts.

She marries Maxim and becomes the second Mrs. de Winter, moving to his imposing and ancient ancestral estate, Manderley, on the Cornish coast. However, her dream-like existence quickly turns into a nightmare. Manderley is still overwhelmingly dominated by the spectral presence of Maxim's first wife, the beautiful, charismatic, and seemingly perfect Rebecca.

Rebecca's memory is meticulously preserved by the sinister and intensely devoted housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, who utterly loathes the new Mrs. de Winter. Mrs. Danvers constantly compares the narrator to Rebecca, subtly undermining her confidence and making her feel inadequate, a mere pale imitation of the brilliant woman who came before her. Rebecca's belongings, her wing of the house, and her reputation remain untouched, turning Manderley into a mausoleum to her memory.

The narrator, lacking a strong sense of self and constantly intimidated by Mrs. Danvers and the seemingly perfect Rebecca, struggles to assert her own identity. Her husband, Maxim, also seems distant and haunted by his past, withdrawing from her whenever Rebecca's name is mentioned. The psychological pressure builds as the narrator descends into a spiral of insecurity and paranoia, convinced she can never live up to Rebecca's legacy.

The climax of the novel occurs when Rebecca's sunken boat is discovered with a body inside, revealing a dark truth about her death and the true nature of her relationship with Maxim. This shocking revelation shatters the idealized image of Rebecca, exposing a far more sinister reality and forcing the narrator to confront the past and finally forge her own identity, free from Rebecca's shadow. "Rebecca" is a masterful exploration of psychological suspense, an unreliable narrative, and the chilling power of a dead woman's hold over the living.

Comments:
People use the word "classic" too often when describing books. This, however, is deserving of the label. It is certainly not my typical choice of book so I had fairly low expectations but was blown away! If you haven't read it, you apply must.

Books that we've read by Daphne du Maurier (1):
Rebecca (1938)