Rebecca:Summary - Year 9 PDF Download

• An Overview of the Novel

  Rebecca is a classic novel that delves into themes of mystery, love, jealousy, and betrayal. Written by Daphne du Maurier, it follows the story of a young, inexperienced woman who marries a wealthy widower, Maxim de Winter, and moves to his grand estate, Manderley. The shadow of Maxim's first wife, Rebecca, looms large over the narrative, influencing the dynamics between the characters and shaping the unfolding events.

• A Plot Summary Broken Down into Sections of the Novel

  Within the novel, the plot can be divided into several key sections that drive the story forward:

  • The Introduction: The novel opens with the protagonist meeting Maxim de Winter in Monte Carlo, where their whirlwind romance begins.
  • Marriage and Move to Manderley: After a brief courtship, the protagonist becomes the second Mrs. de Winter and moves to Manderley, the grand estate where she encounters the lingering presence of Rebecca.
  • The Influence of Rebecca: Throughout the narrative, the protagonist grapples with the legacy of Maxim's first wife, Rebecca, whose memory is kept alive by the housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, and the secrets she left behind.
  • The Climax and Resolution: As mysteries surrounding Rebecca's death come to light, tensions rise at Manderley, leading to a dramatic climax that ultimately resolves the fates of the characters and their relationships.

Summary of "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier

• Overview

  The story begins with an unnamed narrator reflecting on past events while traveling in Europe with a companion, reminiscing about Manderley, the English estate they had to leave. The narrative then shifts back to the narrator's time in Monte Carlo, where she worked for an elderly American socialite. Here, she meets Maximilian de Winter, a wealthy widower whose late wife, Rebecca, died tragically in a sailing accident. A quick courtship leads to marriage, and they start their life together at Manderley.

  As the story progresses, the narrator grapples with feelings of inadequacy compared to the memory of Rebecca. She sees Rebecca as the epitome of glamour and sophistication, believing she can never measure up in Maxim's eyes. Mrs. Danvers, the housekeeper, exacerbates the narrator's insecurities by constantly highlighting Maxim's enduring love for Rebecca.

• Costume Ball and Revelations

  At Manderley's annual costume ball, the second Mrs. de Winter, encouraged by Mrs. Danvers, wears a costume reminiscent of one worn by Rebecca before her death. This deeply unsettles Maxim, who asks her to change. Mrs. Danvers then manipulates the narrator into thinking Maxim no longer desires her and urges her to leap from a window. However, a sudden disturbance prevents this.

  The discovery of a sunken sailing boat containing Rebecca's body leads to Maxim revealing the truth to his second wife. He dispels the illusion of love for Rebecca, exposing her as a cruel and manipulative woman engaged in numerous affairs. To avoid scandal, Maxim allowed her to maintain a facade of the perfect wife publicly while living a privately unrestrained life. In a fit of rage, Maxim shoots her and sinks her body in a sailboat, later identifying another corpse as Rebecca.

• Plot Overview
  • Maxim's Legal Situation
    • Maxim is initially cleared of Rebecca's death by the coroner, ruling it a suicide.
    • However, accusations resurface when Rebecca's lover, Jack Favell, accuses Maxim of murder.
    • The magistrate investigates Rebecca's supposed suicide, uncovering a visit to a London doctor on the day of her death.
    • The doctor reveals Rebecca was battling cancer, providing a plausible motive for suicide and clearing Maxim of suspicion.
  • Mrs. Danvers' Disappearance
    • Mrs. Danvers mysteriously vanishes from Manderley.
  • Return to Manderley
    • The de Winters return to find Manderley engulfed in flames.
• Chapter-by-Chapter Summary
  • Chapters 1-6
    • The story sets the stage for the unfolding drama surrounding Rebecca's death and the aftermath that implicates Maxim in her murder.

• The Narrative Overview:
• The story is presented in a retrospective manner through the eyes of an unnamed narrator.
• The initial chapter is set in the present.
• The narrator, residing abroad, has a dream about Manderley.
• She recalls her past, starting as a companion to Mrs. Van Hopper in Montecarlo.
• Encounters with Maxim de Winter are orchestrated by Mrs. Van Hopper.
• When Mrs. Van Hopper falls ill, the narrator shares a lunch with Maxim.
• Maxim takes her for a drive, describes the beauty of Manderley, and lends her a poetry book dedicated "from Rebecca."
• The narrator learns about the tragedy of Maxim's first wife and confesses her love for Maxim.
• As they prepare to leave Montecarlo, the narrator bids farewell to Maxim.
• Maxim proposes marriage, and she accepts.
• Chapters 7-11 Overview:

These chapters likely delve deeper into the evolving relationship between the narrator and Maxim, exploring the complexities arising from Maxim's past and the mysteries surrounding Manderley.

• Chapters 7-11
• Upon their return to Manderley, the couple is welcomed by the staff.
• Mrs. Danvers shows open contempt for the new Mrs. de Winter.
• The next morning, the narrator experiences anxiety, fearing she might disrupt the routines established by Rebecca.
• During lunch, Maxim's sister Beatrice and his agent, Frank Crawley, pay a visit.
• Beatrice offers well-intentioned advice, encouraging the narrator not to be intimidated by Mrs. Danvers.
• Beatrice reveals Mrs. Danvers' adoration for Rebecca.
• While on a walk with Maxim, the narrator encounters a man named Ben, an intellectually disabled individual living on a nearby farm, in a cottage by the cove.
• Maxim becomes upset by her visit to the cottage.
• Over the following weeks, visitors fondly recall the "old days" at Manderley and discuss Rebecca's popularity.
• In a conversation with Frank, the narrator mentions the Manderley Ball and the cottage.
• Frank discloses that the cottage was where Rebecca used to moor her boat, which tragically capsized, leading to her drowning.
• Frank reassures the narrator that her qualities are just as commendable as Rebecca's and highlights her positive influence on Maxim.
• Chapters 12-18
• These chapters delve into...
• More events unfold...
• Character dynamics shift...
• Themes of... are further explored...

• Summary of Chapters 19-27 of "Rebecca"
• Rebecca's Lingering Presence: The continued haunting presence of Rebecca significantly affects the narrator, exacerbating her feelings of inadequacy.
• Narrator's Encounter with Ben: In Maxim's absence, the narrator ventures to the cove and encounters Ben in the cottage.
• Revelation about Rebecca: Ben discloses that Rebecca had threatened him with asylum if he revealed seeing her there.
• Suspicious Interaction: Upon returning home, the narrator observes a suspicious interaction between Mrs. Danvers and a man named Jack Favell.
• Discovery in the West Wing: Seeking solace in the west wing, the narrator discovers the preserved rooms that Mrs. Danvers has maintained as a shrine to Rebecca.
• Mrs. Danvers' Account: Mrs. Danvers recounts the events leading to Rebecca's drowning and reveals her deep devotion to Rebecca.
• Revelation about Jack Favell: Beatrice informs the narrator that Jack Favell is Rebecca's cousin.
• Maxim's Warning: In a heated confrontation between Maxim and Mrs. Danvers, Maxim insists that Jack Favell must stay away from Manderley.
• Decision to Hold a Ball: The narrator decides to host a ball at Manderley.
• Recreation of a Portrait: Mrs. Danvers suggests that the narrator replicates one of the portraits within Manderley, and she agrees.
• The Dress Incident: On the night of the ball, Maxim reacts coldly when he sees her dress and instructs her to change. Beatrice reveals that the dress mirrors the one chosen by Rebecca for the last ball.
• Confrontation with Mrs. Danvers: Convinced of her failing marriage, the narrator confronts Mrs. Danvers in Rebecca's room, questioning the deception with the costume. Mrs. Danvers praises Rebecca's extraordinary life and virtues.
• Mrs. Danvers' Warning: Mrs. Danvers advises the narrator to leave Manderley, asserting that Maxim does not desire her presence.
• The Cliffhanger: The narrator contemplates jumping from the window but is interrupted by the sound of rockets from the bay.

• The Revelation of Rebecca's Sunken Boat: A diver makes a startling discovery of Rebecca's sunken boat, which sets off a chain of events.
• Maxim's Confession: Maxim confesses to the narrator that he shot Rebecca, placed her body in the cabin, and deliberately sank the boat.
• Conflicting Emotions: He expresses his love for the narrator alongside his intense hatred for Rebecca.
• Rebecca's Affairs and Allegations: Maxim reveals that Rebecca had multiple affairs and claimed to be pregnant by another man.
• Deceptive Narrative: Struggling to create a believable story, Maxim and the narrator attempt to convince others that Rebecca's death was an accident.
• The Inquest: The investigation uncovers deliberate holes in the boat, leading to a shift in the verdict towards suicide.
• Favell's Pursuit of Justice: Favell challenges the suicide verdict and vows to seek justice for Rebecca, disclosing their affair and presenting a note from Rebecca.
• Blackmail and Accusations: Favell tries to blackmail Maxim, accuses him of murder, and implies that Ben might have witnessed something, although Ben denies it.
• Revelation of Rebecca's Illness: It is revealed that Rebecca had cancer and had only a few months left to live.
• Mysterious Disappearance: Mrs. Danvers suddenly disappears, prompting Maxim and the narrator to return to Manderley, where they find the estate in flames.

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