Yes, Rebecca was popular, full of life, and possibly the most beautiful woman ever seen; however, we get a sense that Rebecca had a flaw when Frank tells the narrator that "kindliness, and sincerity, and if I may say so--modesty--are worth far more to a man, to a husband, than all the wit and beauty in the world"(135). We know from the comments of many people, such as the bishop's wife, that Rebecca put on the magnificent parties/balls/tea parties, each "an attractive original idea"(126), for the crowds of people, but the reader doesn't know how she acted around Maxim.
I thought the narrator's walk down to Happy Valley with Maxim and Jasper and the whole boathouse scene seemed slightly off. Frank's hesitant responses to the narrator's questions about the boathouse weren't helping the situation either. He seemed suspicious, just as Maxim appeared on the walk, like he knew something private about the former deWinter couple. Not that Rebecca and Frank were having an affair, but the fact that Rebecca spent many nights in the boathouse (enough that "nobody knew she had gone"(132) sailing when the accident occurred).
It's possible Maxim didn't want to return to the boathouse, chasing after Jasper, because it reminded him of that suspicious thing we don't know and not because it reminded him of Rebecca's death.
Just a thought.
I'm going to be honest, this is a really good thought/assertion. (At least for me) this book seems to shroud its simplicity. The author purposefully has cloaked the narrator in ambiguity and really most of the story, like setting, character thoughts etc. I feel that the narrator, whom we've tried to dissect as this lost character in a complicated situation, when really she's just a poor girl w/ a crippling inferiority complex. Not that this is a bad thing per say, it's a huge theme of human life (over-complication). I think this theory can also be applied to the mystery surrounding Rebecca and Maxim. For most of the time spent reading this book, i've assumed the mystery surrounding Maxim and Rebecca's past would be complex and filled with undertones; like if Rebecca was the life of the party and caused an emasculation effect for Maxim and thus he tossed her out of his house or a situation of the like. However, as you've pointed out, it could be as simple as: Rebecca is an attractive, extroverted woman whom gets tired of Maxim and seeks out other partners, even if just someone like Frank (who isn't portrayed super-masculine, i think), and Maxim is jealous, and kicks her out/murders her.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of your posts, which are both very well said. I feel that we, as readers, just listen to ambiguous thoughts from the narrator. However, Frank is a fascinating character; his odd personality (as noted by the narrator) really is strange and mysterious; he seems to speak quick, one word responses, which add to the mystery of his character. He definitely knows something secret that the narrator doesn't understand, thus leaving her to quiz him and ask many questions.
ReplyDeleteGreat comments all around from Jess, Sam, and Jack. As Jess pointed out, "modesty" seems to be the thing Rebecca was missing, and something that a woman (at least in Frank's opinion) needs even more than "beauty, brains, and breeding." Does that mean that Rebecca's "flaw" is pride? Is pride not something a human should possess (ala Odysseus) or is it something a woman should not have? Certainly our narrator is lacking it in spades--if so, does that make her the "Ideal Woman"? Sam mentioned the word "emasculation." What are the qualities that Maxim has that make him "male"? And what then would have to be taken away in order to "emasculate" him, which means take away his maleness? And how would Rebecca do that?
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of you! I think the one thing we can trust the narrator on is that she never hesitates to mention when she feels uncomfortable in a situation (usually described as feeling "sick"). On another note, I feel like there could be a lot of hidden feelings that the narrator isn't picking up on, but you can kind of pull from the reading, which is just another example of how the narrator is somewhat oblivious. (possibly mrs.danvers feelings for Rebecca...)? Could be totally off though.
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