Blog Post #1
Topic D
April 17, 2015
In the novel Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier motifs developing early in the story include self-confidence and youthful inexperience. The main character, unnamed, faces an internal struggle involving these motifs from the very beginning. Due to Mrs. Van Hopper’s less than encouraging attitude and hurtful comments as well as regular judgmental, age-based platitudes from strangers, the main character has convinced herself that she is “a youthful thing and unimportant,” not worth including in conversation (du Maurier 14). In other words, her youth is a limit obstructing her from the self-confidence required to be social or of worth.
Despite the series of nervous, self-conscious interactions early in the novel, the main character’s attitude changes dramatically when she begins talking to Maxim de Winter. Instead of treating her like a child, as people often had previously, Mr. de Winter not only accepts the main character’s youthful traits but appreciates them. As the main character’s youthfulness is refreshing to Mr. de Winter, de Winter’s honest treatment of the main character allows her to release her insecurities and speak freely. The motifs of confidence and age are central to the main character’s development, as it becomes a major goal of hers. Even though her interactions with Mr. de Winter show progress in the main character’s confidence, there is still room for improvement; despite young and “worthless” at this early point in the novel, but she dreams of aging into a woman of confidence and sociability.
I agree with your point that the “judgmental, age-based platitude from strangers” and Mrs. Van Hoppers attitude towards the main character does strongly effect the main character’s self-confidence and insecurity, But I feel that Maxim de Winter, also causes the main character to feel insecurities and causes her self confidence to way. An example of her insecurity would be when the main character receives the book from Maxim de Winter, given to him by his late wife Rebecca. She shows this Insecurity when she looks through the poem book and notice that Rebecca called maxim de Winters, max, And the main character “Had to call him Maxim” showing that Max de winters causes insecurity to the main character who has to compare herself to his Pervious wife, Rebecca.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point that the “judgmental, age-based platitude from strangers” and Mrs. Van Hoppers attitude towards the main character does strongly effect the main character’s self-confidence and insecurity, But I feel that Maxim de Winter, also causes the main character to feel insecurities and causes her self confidence to way. An example of her insecurity would be when the main character receives the book from Maxim de Winter, given to him by his late wife Rebecca. She shows this Insecurity when she looks through the poem book and notice that Rebecca called maxim de Winters, max, And the main character “Had to call him Maxim” showing that Max de winters causes insecurity to the main character who has to compare herself to his Pervious wife, Rebecca.
ReplyDelete23/25. The blog post is very good. Very clear and consistent in the theme. The only problem in the blog that I saw was a few grammatical errors.
ReplyDelete