What is the theme in Rebecca?
Daphne du Maurier is a master storyteller, and within this literary masterpiece, she takes her readers on a journey that spans several themes, including love and marriage, death and memory, justice, deceit, and even sexuality.
What is the author’s message in Rebecca?
Identity. One of the major themes of the novel is the narrator’s search to establish her own identity. Du Maurier establishes this theme from the very beginning by maintaining the narrator’s anonymity, as only Maxim learns the narrator’s “lovely and unusual” name.
What is the meaning of the book Rebecca?
For feminists, Rebecca is a book about the fear of powerful women, and especially of women who assert their sexual freedom. Rebecca is killed because she defies the patriarchal order. Not only is she unfaithful, she proposes a sham marriage.
Is jealousy a theme in Rebecca?
The theme of jealousy is also apparent in Rebecca’s relationship with Maxim; it was Maxim’s jealousy of Rebecca’s affair with Favell that incited Maxim to shoot her. Jealousy has two consequences in Rebecca. It is a destructive force that threatens to destroy both Maxim and the narrator.
What do rhododendrons symbolize in Rebecca?
Rhododendrons. Rhododendrons represent Rebecca—larger than life, overwhelming, and promiscuous. They also symbolize Rebecca’s rebellion against the formality of the house, the household, and her marital vows. She adhered more to nature than to social conventions.
What is the conflict in Rebecca?
Yep, Rebecca is the conflict. When Mrs. de Winter gets to Maxim’s famous home, Manderley, she’s petrified that she won’t fit in. To make matters worse, she feels like everybody (especially Maxim) is comparing her unfavorably to Maxim’s recently deceased first wife, Rebecca.
How is nature used in Rebecca?
The invasive exteriority of nature in Rebecca is a way of exposing the hypocrisy of the ruling class hidden behind closed doors. The room is depicted as fragile, graceful, and feminine, suggesting Rebecca’s accomplishment as an ideal woman and wife.
Was Mrs Danvers Rebecca’s mom?
Nicknamed “Danny” by Rebecca, Mrs. Danvers was Rebecca’s maid as a child and following the death of her previous mistress, persecutes the new Mrs. de Winter. Danvers resents the new Mrs. de Winter, convinced she is trying to “take Rebecca’s place” despite the two women never meeting and being nothing alike.
Why doesn’t Mrs de Winter have a name?
Names. Mrs. de Winter’s narrative is a personal reflection, taking place inside her mind. So, when she hides her first name, she’s hiding it from herself. And it’s not that she doesn’t remember it, or that nobody calls her by it.
What does the sea symbolize in Rebecca?
The Sea. The sea represents Rebecca’s female sexual power. The reader learns that the sea can be heard from the sexually liberated Rebecca’s bedroom window, while the mousy narrator’s bedroom is far from the sea.
What is the main conflict in Rebecca?
What do azaleas symbolize in Rebecca?
The white azalea petals on the ground of the Happy Valley make us think of Rebecca’s dead body. She always smelled like azalea, and her presence (in the form of these flowers) is still all over the property. Last but not east, the rhododendrons and azaleas might represent wild, uncontrollable nature.
What are the main themes of the book Rebecca?
Rebecca Themes 1 Jealousy. The narrator’s jealousy of Rebecca permeates the majority of the novel. 2 Escaping the past. One of the main conflicts of Rebecca revolves around Maxim and the narrator’s efforts to escape the past. 3 Good versus evil. 4 Love vs. 5 Identity. 6 Gothic fiction. 7 Manderley.
How is the past replayed in the book Rebecca?
By definition, a memory involves the past “replaying” in the present. At Manderley, Rebecca’s past is constantly being replayed in its inhabitants’ memories—the servants mention Rebecca whenever possible, for example.
Why does maxim kill Rebecca in the book Rebecca?
Maxim confronts Rebecca in the boathouse and ultimately kills her because she manipulates his jealousy into a tool for her own destruction. In both cases, jealousy is a destructive force that has the ability to destroy both Maxim and the narrator if they let it.
Who are the good and bad characters in Rebecca?
Du Maurier plays with the dichotomy between good and evil in the way that she presents the main characters. From a general perspective, it is clear that the narrator and Maxim are on the “good” side, while Rebecca and Mrs. Danvers are on the “bad” side.