Book Review: Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier

To say I loved this book would be an understatement. I was enthralled by this story. Mrs. Danvers, Maxim de Winter, Rebecca, and Mrs. de Winter were all written with the utmost literary skill I think I have ever encountered.

The fact that the reader is never told the main character’s first name took immense skill and precision. Despite the lack of a name, I was captivated by her thoughts and observations throughout the book. Though annoying with her self-conscious and insecure behavior, she had an open heart to a husband who did not pay her much attention and was mindful of others. She showed compassion and empathy for others yet was so insecure that she ended up annoying people despite her great attempts to avoid doing so. Toward the end of the book, I would like to think that she had matured despite her young years. However, I don’t think she really did. I don’t even think that was the intention.

I think the scandal of Mr. de Winter murdering Rebecca showed her that she was not the problem; she never was the problem. Maxim was merely carrying this secret while simultaneously trying to keep her from knowing about it. The realization of this seemed to mellow her out though. It made her quit focusing so much on herself and focus on supporting her husband through the repercussions of his actions. Even though Frank had hinted to her numerous times that she was not the problem, she had to figure it out for herself. This was also why I adored Frank—he was loyal to both Maxim and the new Mrs. de Winter without sacrificing the confidentiality he had with Maxim’s secret. He was a support system to them individually and to them as a newly married couple.

I was also taken with the relationship between Mrs. Danvers and Rebecca. Mr. de Winter stated in the book that Rebecca was incapable of love and Mrs. Danvers admitted that Rebecca never loved him or any man for that matter (pp. 271, 340). She was having affairs with multiple men, including her cousin Jack Favell, for goodness sakes! That being said, I think Mrs. Danvers understood Rebecca better than anyone, and, scarily, she was perhaps the only person who truly loved Rebecca. If she loved Rebecca, it was a love that she knew could and would never be reciprocated. I think Rebecca cared for Mrs. Danvers more than anyone else, but I don’t think that it was love either. Where adoration is based on a strong feeling and admiration for someone, love is deeper and involves commitment and sacrifice. I think Mrs. Danvers was committed to Rebecca through and through, keeping her room exactly the way it was after Rebecca’s death, caring for her things, and continui

ng to work for Mr. de Winter required sacrifice of continuing her own life after Rebecca. There was a mutual understanding between Danvers and Rebecca, one that had deeper emotion and affection than any relationships they had with anyone else.