Rebecca

REBECCA
by Daphne du Maurier

Award: National Book 1938

Date Read: September 12, 2019

Only now that I sit to write this blog post do I realize that we never learn the name of the woman who narrates this story. Rebecca refers to Maxim's former wife who died suddenly at sea. I suppose I shall call her Jane.

Jane is a young woman of little means who serves as the companion for a charmless older woman. She finds herself in Monte Carlo and happens to meet Maxim de Winter, a widower on holiday from his estate Manderley. After a quick courtship, and at the prospect of saying good-bye to one another indefinitely, Maxim proposes and Rebecca accepts. I found the prospect of these two marrying somewhat mystifying. They hardly knew each other. They had a large difference in age and had never discussed some of the more pertinent aspects of marriage such as children or future plans. Then again, marriages used to be embarked on with even less of a courtship than this so I'll hold my tongue.

When Jane arrives at Manderley, she soon realizes that she is ill-equipped to fill the shoes of the late Rebecca. Everyone sings her praises. Everyone recants how Rebecca ran the house and how she ran social engagements. Jane is miserable but still deeply loves Maxim.

Some of the plot in Rebecca is easily seen, such as the debacle with the costume ball and the true facts surrounding Rebecca's demise. Yet, others come as a pleasant surprise. I was rooting for Jane throughout and was relieved that her marriage improved after Maxim came clean about what he did. 

SPOILER: I was surprised that Jane didn't view Maxim any differently after learning that he had killed his wife. He murdered someone, yet this news doesn't alter Jane's perspective of him whatsoever. She almost regards him more highly after learning the truth. He's a murderer, woman! Run! Not only doesn't she run, she actively helps him evade prosecution. Divorce was more of a scandal than murder, apparently. So bizarre!