My rating: 3 of 5 stars
My comments on this book are going to be very few, and hardly satisfactory for fans of Rebecca. However, while I found myself admiring and appreciating the plot devices and story itself, I could not attach myself to the whole. Throughout my experience of this gothic novel I felt detached. I doubt, really, that it’s any fault of the book itself. Perhaps it has more to do with my pregnancy and exhausted state of mind at this point in time.
*spoilers ahead*
I can honestly say, however, that I was not much taken in with either the narrator or Maxim de Winter. Neither of them had my sympathy. In fact, I found the former rather annoying with her missish ways and the latter put me off with his off-hand treatment of his second wife. Even when he drops the bombshell about his first wife on her, I could feel no stirring of sympathy or even pity. I simply couldn’t help wondering how perfect they seemed for each other — both superbly conscious of what other people would say about them.
I’ve noticed how some folk, in their reviews, have mentioned how much they’ve been drawn to Rebecca herself. I can’t say that I was. The very first description we have of her from Mrs Danvers was enough to put me off her completely — such an evil creature! Some might say she was simply spoilt, but I doubt there’s anything simple about the manner of woman she was! I will admit however, that du Maurier does a fantastic job in making you curious about this ghost. Like the narrator you really really really want to know all you can about the first Mrs de Winter.
For some reason the red rhododendrons along the drives strike forcefully in my mind’s eye as I think of that novel even now.That’s how intrusive and formidable a character Rebecca strikes me in spite of her absence. Mannerly also stands out as a most impressive character. Everything revolves around Manderley, and as though it were a living, breathing person, it takes on the hue and colours and characteristics of the development of the story. I think it absolutely fitting that Manderley is destroyed at the end. If it were Rebecca who made it what it was then it was bound to fall. After all, Maxim de Winter agrees to this sham of a marriage only because he loves his property and can’t stand a scandal that involves it.
Speaking of which, did anyone find Maxim de Winter weak? Everything for the love of propriety and property. And at the end (which is at the beginning) he can’t even bare the mention of Manderley or aching connected to it. His young wife must shoulder the burden on her own, and help shield him from his memories. Quite pathetic.
I like that the nameless narrator gains some back bone at the end.
I also like how du Maurier actually makes the second Mrs de Winter the shadow of the first Mrs de Winter, when it is the first that is actually the ghost. It was done superbly.
My copy of the novel has an article by a Sally Beauman that I read before beginning the story. In it Shea talks of Rebecca being in a cage much like the narrator, but the two women deal with it all differently….Maxim de Winter being the monster. Towards the end of the novel I found myself thinking “what utter rubbish!” Rebecca was in no cage. She knew exactly what she wanted and she got it. Simple. Too much false analysis is what I call that article.
Hmmm….this post has turned out to be longer than I thought it would. Really, I so sure I’d be writing a maximum of five lines on this because when I think of Rebecca my mind comes up rather blank.
I’d started out by giving this novel four stars but ended it with three for the immediate above reason.
What was your opinion of Rebecca?
Why must the protagonist of a novel always be a strong man? I think that sometimes a weaker character is someone we can empathise with more. As for his obsession with “propriety and property” – he paid a heavy price for that didn’t he? And the narrator being a pale shadow while Rebecca dominates is only right when the novel is called REBECCA.
My impression of this story is influenced much by the gothic atmosphere created by the author. I think Manderlay dominates the novel and Rebecca herself is only an extension of the eerieness of this house. And Mrs.Danvers adds to the creepiness of the tale. Evil hangs heavy on Manderlay and the destruction by fire is an act of cleansing.
Hmmm…maybe that’s what I found was missing with me…I didn’t experience the eeriness at all! All I remember is feeling predominantly annoyed at worst and full of admiration at best. And of course, the court case and its aftermath had me glued to the pages. Perhaps I should read this novel again in different circumstances?
I didn’t find the house creepy in the least. But yeah, Mrs Danvers was plain weird especially in the manner in which she preserves everything that belongs to Rebecca. I didn’t see her as evil though…just as someone obsessed. Rebecca was evil. However, I like that idea of a cleansing. I never thought of its destruction in that manner, only that it served de Winter right.
…it was HIS obsession!
Hey! Come to think of it, Manderley is to Rebecca as Mrs Danvers is to de Winter. Mrs D and de Winter are obsessed with Rebecca and Manderley respectively, and they are each of them the cause of the destruction of the other. And while we are tempted to see this as an act of cleansing, it really isn’t because they each continue to carry the weight of the obsession with them after the destruction of Rebecca and Manderley. …
I’ll stop over thinking it all now.
OK, I haven’t read this yet, but am still looking forward to it. I’m sorry it didn’t agree with you – I’ve seen plenty of mixed reviews though, so you are definitely in good company here. -Sarah
I don’t regret having read it.
I did not like Rebecca’s character, but I loved so much the novel. see my review and on the same post, the questions and my answers at a recent online read-along. there are links to answers by other readers as well. good stuff: http://wordsandpeace.com/2012/07/15/2012-35-review-rebecca/
Thanks for the link!
….I read your review.
thanks
Wow, I must be a shallow reader! I was hooked throughout! I didn’t like the second Mrs. de Winter necessarily, but I was quite curious to see what would happen to her et al. I was hooked by the atmospheric writing! I defintely crave more du Maurier.
I think if I’d read analysis before the story, it would have ruined it for me. I ent into it knowing absolutely nothing about it and let du Maurier captain when to tell me what…
Shallow reader? Don’t say that!
I think, perhaps, for me the thriller quotient was missing, that’s all. I’m not sure why it didn’t work. Perhaps I was in too critical a mood. Or perhaps I was trying to view this as a piece of literature. Or perhaps I simply was not in the right mood for this sort of setting.
I guess I should have left that bit of analysis for when I had finished the book. I found myself puzzling over the analysis of the de Winter wives more than I should have.
*definitely // *entered into it
Typos!
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I recently finished reading Rebecca, and though I really enjoyed it, I think you bring up some excellent points in this piece. I too found Maxim rather weak but not because of his attachment to the property, which I almost feel would be normal for someone of his stature. It’s just that he cannot own up to what he did – and that the narrator has to keep him from completely falling apart in the later parts of the book. Speaking of the narrator, I found her a rather compelling character, despite the flaws you mentioned. She’s quite young and thrust into a very bizarre situation, so I guess I found her extreme shyness and jittery behavior understandable.
Yes, I found it rather annoying that the narrator has to shoulder the burden of her husband’s murder, in a manner of speaking, alone. Do you ever think he feels guilty for what he’s done? It would seem to me that when he met the narrator all his tension was not about what he had done, but about when he would be caught. Even at the end (which is at the beginning) his pain is more to do with Manderley than with remorse for the murder he committed.
I’m not quite sure he feels sorry for what he did. The book goes to great lengths to paint Rebecca as a villain, so in a way, I think that Maxim feels that he was justified. It reminds me of Rhett Butler’s comment about the thief only being sorry he’s going to prison (I know he said it in the movie, but my memory of the book isn’t as strong right now).
I haven’t read Rebecca, but I’ve heard so many varying opinions of it that I’m very curious to read it. Thanks for your thoughts.
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