Rebecca: The Gothic novel

About the Author:

Daphne Du Maurier was born in May of 1907 in
London, England. She was the daughter of actor George and actress Muriel Du Maurier and
was introduced to artistic and literary figures early on in childhood. She attended schools in
London and Paris. Du Maurier's first published work was a short story of hers that led her to
an agent. Du Maurier published her first novel in 1931, and soon met her husband-to-be,
Frederick Browning and had three children together. Daphne Du Maurier produced many
more literary works throughout her lifetime, the most famous one being, Rebecca in 1938. A
few years later the novel was made into a movie and directed by Alfred Hitchcock along
with other of her stories. Du Maurier received the Grand Master Award in 1977 for
publishing an autobiography. Du Maurier's husband died in 1965 and she later died in 1989 at
the age of 81.
How does the setting in, Rebecca, contribute to the gothic genre?
A: The setting in this story has a tremendous contribution to the tone and mood of gothic. The story
takes place at Manderley, a stone-cold mansion isolated in its world. The fog and jagged sea aid in the
sense of foreboding that the mansion has to offer. "I could see the sea from the terrace and the lawns.
It looked grey and uninviting, great rollers sweeping into the bay past the beacon on the headland,"
(Maurier, 122). The sea being the place that Rebecca drowned in due to a boating accident less than a
year ago adds a sense of eeriness and signals a warning to those unfamiliar are not welcome. Mrs. De
Winter describes a boat house that she comes across one day while walking down the beach with her
husband. "It was damp in the cottage, damp and chill. Dark, and oppressive. I did not like it. I had no
wish to stay there," (Maurier, 114). She continues to venture forward into the small cottage and comes
across an uneasy feeling. "There was another door at the end of the room, and I went to it, and opened
it, a little fearful now, a little afraid, for I had the odd, uneasy feeling that I might come upon
something unawares, that I had no wish to see. Something that might harm me, that
might be horrible," (Maurier, 115). The uneasiness and discomfort that Mrs De Winter experiences
set the idea that something more may have happened within the acres of her new home that could be
deadly. Fog plays a significant role in both a literal and figurative manner. "The mist entered my
nostrils and lay upon my lips rank and sour. It was stifling, like a blanket, like an anaesthetic. I was
beginning to forget about being unhappy, and about loving Maxim. I was beginning to forget
Rebecca," (Maurier, 251). The fog not only clouded her vision, it also clouded her judgment.
momentarily confounding the character contributing to the suspense of the scene. The damp and cold
staircases and passageways give the setting that older, very early Gothic nature. The lingering
presence of Rebecca within the house haunts not only the new Mrs. De Winter but Maxim De Winter
as well.

Q: How does mystery affect the supernatural in the story?

A: The mystery in the story does not appear until later when Maxim De Winter reveals what
happened to Rebecca when her body is discovered in her boat not far off the shore. The
mystery of who lies within the boat's cabin as well as the mystery of what body lies within
the crypt of the cabin. During this time, Rebecca appears to be stronger than ever because it
seems that no matter what form she may take, her memory, her evil demeanour, or her
popularity continues to be the star of the show. Once the truth or a form of the truth begins to
unravel, a new mystery appears. Mrs. Rebecca De Winter had a secret of her own that no one
ever knew, not even Mrs. Danvers. This lead causes the characters to embark on a quest to
uncover a secret that did not exist until the appearance of Rebecca's newfound body. The
timing of her body being found and the clues that begin to follow this act cause great
suspense and mystery to the story, building up to a shocking climax.

Q: How is the supernatural explained in the story?

A: Throughout the novel, there is the presence of Rebecca prominent in almost every room of
the house, even though the newly married couple were relocated to the opposite side that
was not occupied by the late Mrs De Winter. Mrs. De Winter is established in the same
drawing room that was used by Rebecca, uses the same pen, paper, and materials as she used,
is expected to adhere to the structure that was accustomed to Rebecca, etc. Everywhere she
was the presence and ominous feeling of Rebecca lingered, wafting throughout the house. "At
any moment she might come back into the room, and she would see me there, sitting before
her open drawer, which I had no right to touch," (Maurier, 86). The presence of Rebecca was
very prominent in this moment that it was as if she was away on vacation about to appear.
The true reason as to why Rebecca has an immortal spirit is through her faithful friend, Mrs.
Danvers. "You would not think she had been gone now for so long, would you, not by the
way the rooms are kept? You would think she had just gone out for a little while and would
be back in the evening," (Maurier, 175). Mrs Danvers's obsession with keeping Rebecca alive
throughout the house contributes to the supernatural because it allows the new Mrs De Winter
to fade into the shadows while Rebecca remains the centre of everyone's thoughts.

Q: How is Good vs. Evil a major role within the text?

A: The good can be reflected through the new bride of Mr. De Winter, Mrs. De Winter. She
becomes the heroine of the story, even though that role does not appear until much later in the
plot. She becomes strong for her husband when he no longer has the will to hide the secret
that haunted him for the past year. Mrs. De Winter who is very weak and child-like at the
beginning of their marriage can defeat the looming power that Rebecca still has over her
husband as well as the house, regardless of her being deceased. "Rebecca's power had
dissolved into the air as the mist had done. She would never haunt me again. She would never
stand behind me on the stairs, sit beside me in the dining room, lean down from the gallery
and watch me standing in the hall," (Maurier, 290). This becomes a major turning point in the
story because it destroys the control that Rebecca managed to carry on over into her death.
Two characters represent evil. The first is Rebecca who has just as strong of an influence in
her death as she held when she was alive. Maxim De Winter is finally able to explain to the
new Mrs. De Winter what he felt towards Rebecca. "I hated her, I tell you, our marriage was a
farce from the very first. She was vicious, damnable, and rotten through and through. We
never loved each other, never had one moment of happiness together. Rebecca was incapable
of love, of tenderness, of decency. She was not even normal," (Maurier, 275). This part
suggests that Rebecca was not entirely human, she was "damnable" and wicked. Mrs.
Danvers, the sinister housekeeper who upon first meeting left a lasting impression on Mrs. De
Winter. "Someone advanced from the sea of faces, someone tall and gaunt, dressed in deep
black, whose prominent cheekbones and great, hollow eyes gave her a skull's face,
parchment-white, set on a skeleton's frame," (Maurier, 67). She continues describing her as
having "deathly cold" hands and a lifeless voice. At one point in the story, Mrs De Winter
caught Mrs Danvers having her face transformed into, "an exulting devil" showing the truth
behind Mrs Danvers motives. Mrs..... De Winter grew to become aware of the special
relationship that Mrs. Danvers and Rebecca had while she was alive, and the relationship is
stronger than even now that she is dead. Mrs. Danvers attempts to persuade Mrs. De Winter
to commit suicide using her devilish tricks. " 'I won't push you. I won't stand by you. You can
jump of your own accord. What's the use of your stay here at Manderley? You're not happy.
Mr. De Winter doesn't love you. There's not much for you to live for, is there?'" (Maurier,
250). This scene causes Mrs Danvers to become more dangerous than before because she
does not threaten the child to push her out of the window but persuades her to jump off her
own accord, giving her a demonic spirit. Even though Mrs De Winter can break free of
Rebecca's immorality, Mrs Danvers has the last act of wickedness that haunts the couple for
the rest of their lives; setting Manderley on fire.