1001 Books for Every Mood - Readers Guide

Rebecca by Daphne duMaurier

Narrated as an extended flashback by the nameless bride of Maxim de Winter, this novel combines gothic romance, murder and taut suspense. Rebecca was his first wife who mysteriously drowned. Her spirit holds Manderley and the new bride in her icy grip. Mrs. Danvers, the housekeeper, is a most formidable villain. This novel made Du Maurier one of the most popular authors of her day and still holds us captive.
--1001 Books for Every Mood

Readers Guide by Jan Brogan

Overview

Both a Cinderella story and a mystery, Rebecca creates uncertainty from the moment that the narrator meets the rich and mysterious Maxim de Winter in Monte Carlo. She is but 21-years old and a paid companion of a disagreeable woman who constantly reminds her of inferior status. Despite the whirlwind courtship by de Winter, the narrator, who remains unnamed throughout the novel, is never sure of her husband’s feelings for her.

From the first chapter, when she finds a book of poetry inscribed from his first wife, the narrator is haunted by Rebecca, and the torch Maxim must be carrying for her.

When the new couple returns to England, the narrator’s feelings of inferiority are heightened by the status and the demands of running Manderley, her husband’s beautiful seaside estate. The housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, exhibits a creepy adoration for Rebecca and reminds the narrator at every turn of her own shortcomings. And how much better Rebecca was at absolutely everything.

The larger than life Rebecca returns from the grave, when a ship hits a rock in the nearby bay, and the mystery of Rebecca begins to unravel a fascinating and twisted tale.

Discussion Questions

1. The narrator, the young Mrs. de Winter, is never given a first name. How does this affect the reader’s view of her, and her comparison to Rebecca?

2. The narrator is 21-years old. Why is that important? Her husband, Maxim is 42. How does that affect her view of their relationship? She also tells Maxim that “I don’t belong to your sort of world?” (p. 53) What is the narrator’s attitude about herself? How does this make you feel about her, and why is it so important for the progression of the story?

3. How does the way Maxim proposes to the narrator affect her view of their relationship? How are her fantasies contrasted by the realities? Why is there so much talk of the tangerine he eats and its bitterness?

4. The narrator says: “The past did not exist for either of us, we were starting afresh, he and I. The past had blown away like the ashes in the waste-paper basket.” (p. 60). Do you think the narrator really believes this at this point in the story? How is her thinking here in direct opposition to the theme of the book?

5. Mrs. Danvers is described as “someone tall and gaunt, dressed in deep black, whose prominent cheekbones and great, hollow eyes gave her a skull’s face, parchment white, set in a skeleton’s frame?” (p. 66.) How does this description foretell her role in this story?

6. You can’t see the sea from the east wing of Manderley where our narrator and her bridegroom have a bedroom. Why did Maxim choose this wing for his new marriage and how does our narrator misread his reasons?

7. Beatrice, Maxim’s sister, is described as direct. Why is it important that this character be direct? What does she say about Maxim’s physical and emotional condition six months ago? How does the narrator misinterpret this? How does this prove to be a clue?

8. When the spaniel, Jasper, takes the path to the cove, the narrator follows and meets Ben, the addled worker. (p.109) He gives the narrator an important clue: “I never said nothing, did I?” What is he referring to? Why does the narrator’s trip to the beach cottage provoke a fight with Maxim?

9. How does the way the narrator handles her mishap – breaking the china cupid –say about her? What is her relationship to the servants? What should it be? Why does it irritate Maxim?

10. Why does Mrs. Danvers maintain Rebecca’s bedroom suite in the west wing so painstakingly? When she says of Rebecca :”I feel her everywhere, you do, too.’ what is she trying to do to the narrator? (p.161

11. For the costume ball, Maxim suggests that the narrator goes as “Alice In Wonderland.” Why does the Maxim choose this character? What is the author saying about his view about his wife? Is it apt?

12. Later when Mrs. Danvers suggests that the narrator copy one of the portraits in the gallery for her costume, what is she trying to achieve? How does the author use this to build suspense?

13. When Mrs. Danvers tries to talk the narrator into jumping out the window, do you believe she may succeed? The rockets, which signal the accident at sea, interrupt them. Why is that significant?

14. When Maxim reveals how he killed Rebecca, he also, for the first time, tells the narrator he loves her. Why are these two revelations timed together?

15. What is the narrator’s reaction to her husband’s confession? What does this say about her? How has she misinterpreted her husbands’ grief and his first marriage and how was that critical to the story?

16. Maxim says living with Rebecca was like living with the devil (p. 257) Do you think Rebecca represents evil? Is she supposed to be a sociopath? Have you known anyone like Rebecca?

17. Maxim says “I thought about Manderley too much.” (p. 258) What does he mean? He credits Rebecca for making Manderley its current creation of beauty. Why is that important in their social class? In the county where they live? How does this emphasis and sacrifice for the house and the estate foretell the ending of the book?

18. Doe Maxim’s revelations about Rebecca make you sympathetic to him? Justify murder?

19. How do these revelations change the narrator? What does she learn about keeping secrets and being shy? How does her character change? Her actions? Her relationship to Mrs. Danvers?

20. Jack Flavell says initially that when he learned Rebecca drowned, he thought: “That’s the sort of death Rebecca would chose, she’d go out like she lived, fighting.” (p. 305) How does this prove to be true? What does Maxim’s rejection of his blackmail offer say about Maxim? How does his reaction contrast to Frank’s response?. How does the existence of Rebecca’s note to Flavell change the course of the story?

21. Flavell and Rebecca were first cousins, and having an affair. How does that make you feel about Rebecca? That era?

22. What does Dr. Baker’s revelation of Rebecca’s terminal illness say about Rebecca? Does this justify Maxim shooting her? Or mitigate his guilt because Rebecca was goading him to murder her?

23. Maxim loses Manderley. Is that sufficient punishment for murdering his wife? Does he deserve punishment? Does he deserve happiness?

About the Author

Daphne du Maurier was born in 1907, grand-daughter of the brilliant artist and writer George du Maurier, daughter of Gerald, the most famous Actor Manager of his day, she came from a creative and successful family.

She began writing short stories in 1928, and in 1931 her first novel, 'The Loving Spirit' was published. It received rave reviews and further books followed. Then came her most famous three novels, 'Jamaica Inn', 'Frenchman's Creek' and Rebecca'. Each novel being inspired by her love of Cornwall, where she lived and wrote.

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Also by Daphne duMaurier --

Jamaica Inn
Frenchmen’s Creek

Other books that elicit the themes of dark secrets and love:

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Endless Love by Scott Spencer

Jan Brogan

Jan Brogan has been a journalist for thirty years. Her first novel, Final Copy, won the Drood Review of Mystery Editor’s Choice award. Her other novels, A Confidential Source, Yesterday’s Fatal, and Teaser, all feature journalist Hallie Ahern.