The 2000 winner of the Anthony Award for Best Novel of the Century, Daphne du Maurier’s novel Rebecca is considered a gothic classic. The novel is narrated in first person by an unnamed narrator only referred to as the second Mrs. de Winter, a detail important to her character and identity.
The narrator is a paid companion when Maxim de Winter meets her for the first time. Maxim is charming, kind and owns Manderley, a large country estate so beautiful and reputable that the narrator owns a postcard of it. The two bond almost instantly, but it still comes as a surprise to everyone when Maxim proposes suddenly.
Life at Manderley, however, feels different. The new Mrs. de Winter is unaccustomed to Manderley with its extravagant living, the pressure of hosting and the memory of Rebecca, Maxim’s recently deceased wife, lingering in every inch of the house.
Manderley slowly becomes home to Mrs. de Winter, but she can’t shake the pressure to be perfect, to live up to the legacy Rebecca left behind as the perfect host who is said to have thrown the most anticipated parties and been adored by all. She develops an insecurity-derived obsession with Maxim’s late wife, unable to stop comparing herself to Rebecca and feeling inadequate in her own identity. Conflict with Mrs. Danvers, the head housekeeper of the estate, only furthers her insecurity. Mrs. Danvers loved Rebecca and, as a result, develops a complex relationship with the narrator that’s full of tension.
Maxim only contributes to the mystery. His distance and cold attitude when Rebecca is mentioned and the reports of how hard he grieved Rebecca’s death only fuel the narrator’s fears of not measuring up to Rebecca. However, Maxim’s emotions and motivations are far from—and far darker than—what they seem. He contributes to the confusing atmosphere of thrilling mystery and the novel doesn’t often feel like the romance it’s also considered to be.
The writing is an important part of building the book’s eerie suspense. Just like the estate, the writing is beautiful, with du Maurier often describing Manderley’s nature and beauty. However, behind the flowery words is a tone fraught with tension, reflective of the mystery of Manderley.
Although some may argue that the morally gray, flawed characters are its downfall, they also keep the book interesting. It’s important to recognize the flaws and that the characters are not strictly ‘good’—the characters of Rebecca aren’t necessarily ones to be rooting for or supporting.
Rebecca is tense with mystery all throughout the story. Its rich, flawed characters have complex relationships, identities and motivations and are among the most interesting parts of the book. For readers looking for a classic, gothic thriller that’s more than meets the eye, du Maurier’s novel delivers.
