Discussion #4

1. When Maxim leaves for London, the main character feels lighthearted and childish. She earlier mentioned she doesn't feel this way when Maxim is around. Why?

• Maxim is subconsciously holding her back from being herself in the way he treats her. When he's gone, the main character has freedom to be herself.
• Maxim can be overbearing. He expects the main character to be up to his standards, so she doesn't have that freedom.
• Maxim has routines at Manderly, and he expects the main character to be able to handle herself and act how Rebecca did.

2. After stealing from Rebecca's boathouse, Ben fears being sent to the asylum from a traumatic encounter with Rebecca. What do you think happened?

• Maybe Rebecca saw the boathouse as her sanctuary. If she found someone stealing from it, she easily could have become very angry.
• Rebecca seems to be somewhat of a control freak and very straightforward. She may have threatened Ben because it was the quickest, most straightforward solution to preventing Ben from stealing.
• Rebecca also seems to have had a routine, so she may have gotten mad when Ben threw that routine off.

3. Why does Maxim hate Jack Favell?

• Because Jack was her cousin, he could bring Maxim  memories of Rebecca.
• There could have been a past family feud of argument between the two.
• Maxim does not like to bring up memories of Rebecca, and Jack could be a big, direct reminder of Rebecca.

4. When Beatrice and the main character visit the grandmother, what happens? Why do you think this happens?

• Grandma forgets that Rebecca died because of her old age.
• The main character must be extremely hurt. She's been struggling to separate herself from Rebecca, and the grandma has actually outwardly expected Maxim's new wife to be Rebecca.
• Must have been crushing. The main character has been struggling with it for the entire book, and this was the worst reminder.

5. Why is the main character's dress for the party so wrong and scandalous?

• She unknowingly dresses like Rebecca used to. Maxim thinks she did it to mock him.
• Mrs. Danvers was very harsh, although her embarrassment was enough of a punishment.

6. Where do you think Maxim went after the party?

• Maxim was very upset and never came back home to bed. He may have gone to sleep in the boathouse.
• He may have gone out for a drive, as he seemed to zone out and clear his mind when he went for drives earlier in the story.