So, once again, I'm interested in the concept of the narrator's reliability. I want to incorporate into my analysis the words the narrator uses to describe herself versus the words other people use to describe her. Similar to The Virgin Suicides, I am interested in how the narrator gives us bad information, such as her assertion that Maxim had always loved Rebecca. Her assumptions and flawed information, in turn, makes us become bad readers.
Questions to consider:
-Should we blame the narrator herself or her lack of confidence?
-How does this actually make us bad readers?
-Do we, as readers, ever get firsthand information? (Consider Ben for this.)
-What will happen now that we know the truth about Rebecca?
Your interest in this concept is great, Jack. Make sure you explore what makes a "reader" (the narrator, after all, is a reader of a story she doesn't understand; she changes her perspective on the events with 'knowledge'). Be very careful to clarify for yourself what is being read, who is the "author" of each story (yes, there's du Maurier, obviously, but what about Rebecca herself? does she "author" her own story? Who are the characters in her story?). Ultimately, your big question has to do with the nature of truth itself--does it exists? how is created? and, really big here, does it matter?
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