Isabella Hajnos
H English Per. D
08 May 2015
Topic A
The
Truth
We
later find out in the novel that Rebecca did not drown at all, but Maxim killed
her. Rebecca was an evil and cold woman who only hurt Maxim and deceived those
around her. The main character finally realizes that “Rebecca had lost” (du
Maurier 290). This quote clearly signifies that the main character was not
defeated by the overpowering presence of Rebecca she felt for almost her entire
relationship with Maxim. Maxim and Rebecca’s marriage was a scam and not real,
and with this the main character’s insecurity is lifted and her confidence
greatly rises. With Rebecca’s loss, Mrs. Danvers’ grip on the main characters
confidence also dies, and Mrs. Danvers is now much more vulnerable when the
main character begins to show herself in Manderley.
Although the main character’s internal struggle is fixed, her external problems are only beginning with the discovery of Rebecca’s boat and body. They are interviewed by the coroner and Maxim tells him ‘what he knows’, obviously denying that he had anything to do with the sinking of the boat. Jack Favell later hears that the coroner declared Rebecca’s death to be suicide, and demands “to see justice is done to Rebecca” (du Maurier 329). Since Favell is drunk, when Maxim gets Colonel Julyan to come over and hear Jacks’ story, Julyan doesn’t take lightly to Favell. This all helps the main character in ‘winning’ against Rebecca in the fight for justice and confidence. Rebecca’s fight is over; she truly has lost. In thinking she can win, the truth always brings out the best and worst in people. In this case, it brought out the best in the main character, and the worst of Rebecca and Jack.
Although the main character’s internal struggle is fixed, her external problems are only beginning with the discovery of Rebecca’s boat and body. They are interviewed by the coroner and Maxim tells him ‘what he knows’, obviously denying that he had anything to do with the sinking of the boat. Jack Favell later hears that the coroner declared Rebecca’s death to be suicide, and demands “to see justice is done to Rebecca” (du Maurier 329). Since Favell is drunk, when Maxim gets Colonel Julyan to come over and hear Jacks’ story, Julyan doesn’t take lightly to Favell. This all helps the main character in ‘winning’ against Rebecca in the fight for justice and confidence. Rebecca’s fight is over; she truly has lost. In thinking she can win, the truth always brings out the best and worst in people. In this case, it brought out the best in the main character, and the worst of Rebecca and Jack.
I definitely agree that the discovery of Rebecca's body has been a major turning point in the novel, both for the main character's relationship with Maxim as well as her struggle with Rebecca and Mrs. Danvers. Once the main character discovers the truth about the situation of Maxim's previous marriage, she no longer feels that Maxim is comparing her to Rebecca. Knowing that Maxim does not love Rebecca, the main character'spends relationship with Maxim can finally improve and become much more open, loving, and trusting. As a result of this new and improved relationship with Maxim, the main character can finally overcome her insecurities to have the upper hand over Rebecca. Instead of constantly worrying about following in Rebecca's footsteps, the main character now has a confidence in herself that has never been shown before in the book. This gives her the ability to overcome Rebecca's overshadowing legend as well as Mrs. Danvers' malevolent spirit and sabotage towards the main character. The truth about Rebecca's death gives the main character the confidence and strength to overcome previous struggles in the book, now focused on overcoming a final struggle with the physical body of the former Mrs. de Winter.
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