Rebecca Book Review and Summary
Rebecca Book Review by Daphne du Maurier is a classic psychological thriller, first published in 1938. The novel tells the story of a young woman who marries a wealthy widower named Maxim de Winter and then becomes obsessed with the memory of his first wife, Rebecca, who died in a boating accident a year before their marriage.
The novel begins with the unnamed narrator, who is never given a name, working as a paid companion to a wealthy American woman in Monte Carlo. She meets Maxim de Winter, and they fall in love and marry quickly. When they return to Maxim’s country estate, Manderley, the narrator is immediately intimidated by the memory of Rebecca. The house is filled with her things, and the servants still seem to be in mourning for her.
The narrator tries to make Manderley her own, but she is constantly haunted by Rebecca’s shadow. She feels inadequate compared to Rebecca’s beauty and accomplishments, and she is constantly worried that she will not be able to live up to Maxim’s expectations.
One day, the narrator discovers a boathouse on the Manderley estate that has been locked up since Rebecca’s death. Inside, she finds a collection of Rebecca’s belongings, including a diary. The narrator begins to read the diary, and she becomes obsessed with learning everything she can about Rebecca.
From the diary, the narrator learns that Rebecca was a manipulative and cruel woman. She had an affair with another man, and she was pregnant when she died. The narrator realizes that Maxim must have killed Rebecca, and she is terrified that he will do the same to her.
The novel comes to a climax when Manderley is destroyed by a fire. The narrator is trapped in the burning house, but she is rescued by Maxim. After the fire, Maxim confesses to the narrator that he did kill Rebecca, but he did it because he loved her. He says that he thought she was going to leave him for another man, and he couldn’t bear the thought of losing her.
The narrator forgives Maxim, and they start a new life together. However, the memory of Rebecca continues to haunt them both.
Rebecca is a complex and suspenseful novel that explores themes of love, obsession, and revenge. Du Maurier’s writing is masterful, and she creates a truly chilling atmosphere. The novel is also a meditation on the power of memory and the importance of letting go of the past.
Rebecca has been adapted into several films, including a classic 1940 version directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The novel remains popular today, and it is considered to be one of the greatest psychological thrillers ever written.
In addition to the summary above, here are some of the key themes of Rebecca:
- Love and obsession: The novel explores the complex relationship between love and obsession. The narrator is obsessed with Rebecca, even though she never met her. She is drawn to Rebecca’s beauty and accomplishments, but she is also terrified of her. Maxim is also obsessed with Rebecca, even after her death. He is unable to let go of her memory, and he is haunted by her ghost.
- Revenge: The novel also explores the theme of revenge. The narrator believes that Maxim killed Rebecca in revenge for her affair with another man. Maxim eventually confesses to killing Rebecca, but he says that he did it because he loved her. He thought that she was going to leave him, and he couldn’t bear the thought of losing her.
- Memory: The novel also explores the power of memory. The narrator is constantly haunted by the memory of Rebecca. She sees her ghost in the mirrors, and she hears her voice in the wind. Maxim is also haunted by Rebecca’s memory. He is unable to move on with his life because he is still grieving for her.
- Letting go of the past: In the end, the narrator and Maxim are able to let go of the past and start a new life together. However, the memory of Rebecca will always be with them.
Rebecca Book Summary is a complex and thought-provoking novel that continues to resonate with readers today. It is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and suspenseful fiction.