"Rebecca" is a classic gothic novel that is often compared to "Jane Eyre". "Rebecca" sets many gothic themes; some examples are Hero/Villain, paranormal explained, escape, and setting.
F.A.Q
Q. How is the gothic theme paranormal explained used in "Rebecca"?
A. In "Rebecca" the nameless heroine marries Maxim only a year after his wife's death. The heroine is taken to Maxim's mansion after the wedding and is not treated well by the house staff. Throughout the book the heroine is constantly being compared to Rebecca, Maxim's deceased wife and can't seem to step out of her shadow. All the heroine hears and sees is Rebecca's beauty and perfectness. The mansion was brought and decoated by Rebecca. When reading the novel it makes you think Rebecca is actually haunting the house. I even thought at one point that Rebecca might still be alive. The heroine is surrounded by Rebecca's life and mistakes this as Rebecca being there in spirit. The heroine also feels like she can't live Rebecca's memory down and be the new Mrs.Maxim de Winter. This is all explained near the end of the novel when Rebecca's body is found and one of the house staff, Mrs. Danvers, is discovered making the heroines life miserable by making Rebecca's memories live.
Q. Who is the hero/vilian in "Rebecca"?
A. In “Rebecca” the hero is Maxim de Winter. Maxim seems very in love with the heroine in the beginning of the book. Their relationship moves past and they become married right away. Once the heroine and Maxim arrive at the mansion, Maxim’s attitude towards the heroine changes. He becomes distant and not as loving. The heroine takes this as Maxim not truly loving her and also that he is still mourning over the death of his wife Rebecca. Later in the book Maxim admits his true feeling for the heroine. He loves her but is worried that he will be found as a killer for killing his wife. At the same point in the novel we find out that even though Rebecca is dead, she is the villain. Rebecca is seen to the public as being the prefect wife but we find out that she was having several affairs and truly didn’t love maxim. The whole Rebecca situation stops Maxim and the heroines love to really be. Her memory is haunting both the heroine and Maxim.
Q. What setting in "Rebecca" make the novel gothic?
A."Rebecca” is set in a haunted mansion named Manderley. The novel starts off with “Last night I dreamt I went to the Manderley again.”, which tells you how important Manderley is important to the story. When the heroine meets Maxim in Monte Carlo the weather is warm and the sun is out. After marriyng Maxim and the heroine move to the Manderley. The heroine is excited. She has visioned herself living in the mansion since a child. When they reached the Manderley things change. The weather is cold and glooming. The mansion is nothing like the heroine thought since it’s covered in Rebecca. Manerley holds Maxim to what he has done and just keeps the memories coming. In the end Manderley is its own character.
Q.How does escape come into the gothic theme?
A. Throughout the whole book Maxim is trying to escape his past. Maxim is troubled by the thoughts of his marriage to Rebecca and the crime he has committed. The heroine is also tormented by the memory of Rebecca. Maxim and the heroine are only able to escape from their past and trouble when the Manerleyand all the memories of Rebecca are destroyed in a fire.
A. In "Rebecca" the nameless heroine marries Maxim only a year after his wife's death. The heroine is taken to Maxim's mansion after the wedding and is not treated well by the house staff. Throughout the book the heroine is constantly being compared to Rebecca, Maxim's deceased wife and can't seem to step out of her shadow. All the heroine hears and sees is Rebecca's beauty and perfectness. The mansion was brought and decoated by Rebecca. When reading the novel it makes you think Rebecca is actually haunting the house. I even thought at one point that Rebecca might still be alive. The heroine is surrounded by Rebecca's life and mistakes this as Rebecca being there in spirit. The heroine also feels like she can't live Rebecca's memory down and be the new Mrs.Maxim de Winter. This is all explained near the end of the novel when Rebecca's body is found and one of the house staff, Mrs. Danvers, is discovered making the heroines life miserable by making Rebecca's memories live.
Q. Who is the hero/vilian in "Rebecca"?
A. In “Rebecca” the hero is Maxim de Winter. Maxim seems very in love with the heroine in the beginning of the book. Their relationship moves past and they become married right away. Once the heroine and Maxim arrive at the mansion, Maxim’s attitude towards the heroine changes. He becomes distant and not as loving. The heroine takes this as Maxim not truly loving her and also that he is still mourning over the death of his wife Rebecca. Later in the book Maxim admits his true feeling for the heroine. He loves her but is worried that he will be found as a killer for killing his wife. At the same point in the novel we find out that even though Rebecca is dead, she is the villain. Rebecca is seen to the public as being the prefect wife but we find out that she was having several affairs and truly didn’t love maxim. The whole Rebecca situation stops Maxim and the heroines love to really be. Her memory is haunting both the heroine and Maxim.
Q. What setting in "Rebecca" make the novel gothic?
A."Rebecca” is set in a haunted mansion named Manderley. The novel starts off with “Last night I dreamt I went to the Manderley again.”, which tells you how important Manderley is important to the story. When the heroine meets Maxim in Monte Carlo the weather is warm and the sun is out. After marriyng Maxim and the heroine move to the Manderley. The heroine is excited. She has visioned herself living in the mansion since a child. When they reached the Manderley things change. The weather is cold and glooming. The mansion is nothing like the heroine thought since it’s covered in Rebecca. Manerley holds Maxim to what he has done and just keeps the memories coming. In the end Manderley is its own character.
Q.How does escape come into the gothic theme?
A. Throughout the whole book Maxim is trying to escape his past. Maxim is troubled by the thoughts of his marriage to Rebecca and the crime he has committed. The heroine is also tormented by the memory of Rebecca. Maxim and the heroine are only able to escape from their past and trouble when the Manerleyand all the memories of Rebecca are destroyed in a fire.