Rebecca: A Tale of Love, Mystery, and Obsession

1. SE2 Lecture X Lector L. Deighton Chrisostomides

2. Dramatis Personae • The Narrator- The unnamed narrator of “Rebecca”. After her marriage sometimes referred to as Mrs de Winter. • Maxim de Winter- A wealthy widower and the owner of Manderley. His ex-wife died a year prior to the story beginning. • Rebecca de Winter- The titular character of the book. Despite her death she influences the narrator a great deal over the course of the story. • Mrs Danvers- a housekeeper at Manderley who adored Rebecca. She has issues with a new woman taking Rebecca’s place as the mistress of Manderley. • Jack Favell- Rebecca’s first cousin and a close friend of Mrs Danvers. Disliked a great deal by Maxim. • Mrs Van Hopper- The narrator’s employer at the beginning of the story.

3. Chapter 1: I Meet Maxim de Winter • Where is the first chapter set? How does the narrator describe Mrs Van Hopper? Why does she go to Monte Carlo? How does the narrator describe herself? Who enters the restaurant and what does Van Hopper say about him? • What Ruse did Van Hopper use to strike up conversation with de Winter? What impression do you think de Winter got from Van Hopper? What do Van Hopper and the narrator leave to do? What happens at the end of the chapter?

4. Chapter 2: A Day Out Together • What happens to Mrs Van Hopper at the beginning of the chapter? What happens in the restaurant and who comes over to help? Who does the narrator have lunch with and what do they talk about? • Where do de Winter and the narrator go? How does she say she feels around him? Where do they go in the end? What does de Winter finally talk about? What does he give the narrator? What does she find inside?

5. Chapter 3: In Love • How does the narrator feel about de Winter? What does Mrs Van Hopper say about her behaviour? What does she mistakenly mention to de Winter? What does de Winter say about his memories? Why does the narrator cry? • How does de Winter cheer her up? What does Van Hopper talk about when the narrator returns? What does the narrator think to herself about Rebecca? What about the name Rebecca called de Winter?

6. Chapter 4: I Leave Monte Carlo • What does Van Hopper want to do and how does the narrator react? What was she worried about Maxim doing? What happens when she goes to look for him? What does she do instead of going to ask about the train? • What offer does Maxim make and how does she initially take it? Who is to go and speak with Van Hopper? How does Van Hopper react when the door is opened? What does the narrator think to herself? What does Van Hopper say to the narrator at the end of the chapter?

7. Chapter 5: I Come to Manderley • What is the weather like as the couple leaves for Manderley? How does the narrator feel? What does the narrator say about Mrs Danvers? What does Mrs Danvers surprise the newlyweds with when they arrive? • What is the narrator invited to do and with whom? What is the atmosphere like during the tour? How does it change when Rebecca is mentioned? If you haven’t read the story, why do you think Maxim changed the rooms? If you have, why did he actually change the rooms? What does the narrator think about routines at the end of the chapter?

8. Chapter 6: In the Morning Room • What does the narrator notice about Manderley on her first morning there? Who is coming over for lunch? What does Frith tell the narrator about the fire in the library? • What is the morning-room like? How does the narrator react to the phone call? Who was on the phone and what did they want? Who does the narrator decide to write a letter to?

9. Chapter 7+8: You are so Very Different/The Happy Valley • Why is the narrator worried when Beatrice arrives? What does she do? Where does she end up and what does Mrs Danvers say to her? What does she conclude Mrs Danvers is doing? • Who is Frank Crawley and what does he do? What mistake does the narrator make? What doesn’t she know? What does Beatrice tell the narrator and what does it actually mean? What is the relevance to the rest of the story? • Chapter 8: What do Maxim and his wife do after their guests leave? What impression does the narrator have about Beatrice and what she thinks of the marriage? Where does the dog try to go? What is the happy valley?

10. Chapter 9: The Cottage in the Bay • Where does Jasper go and how does Mr de Winter act? Why do you think he does this? What does she see after she climbs the rock? What was Jasper doing? • Who is there an what does he say that is unusual? What is the relevance to the rest of the story? Where does she go to try and find string? How does her husband react when she says she went there? What does he say about his memories? What does she think about at the end of the chapter? What happens with the handkerchief when she returns?

11. Chapter 10+11: Questions and Answers/The China Cupid • How does the weather reflect the emotions of the characters at the beginning of the chapter? What does the narrator say about herself? What does the bishop’s wife ask about? How does the bishop’s wife describe Rebecca? • What types of questions does the narrator ask Frank? How does he refer to Rebecca? What does she say about Rebecca? How does Frank feel about the new marriage? The past? How beautiful does he say Rebecca was? • Chapter 11: Who is Clarice? What did Beatrice send Mrs de Winter? What happens with the China ornaments? How does Mrs Danvers look at the narrator? What conversation do de Winter and the narrator have about her shyness?

12. Chapter 12+13: In the West Wing/More About Jack Favell • Where does Maxim go and what does the narrator say? How does the narrator feel about being alone at Manderley? What was the name of the boat written on the buoy? • Who is in the cottage and what does he say? What’s unusual about the exchange between the two characters? Who is in the house when the narrator returns? What is the narrators impression of him? What does she do after he leaves? • What is Rebecca’s bedroom like? Why is that unusual? How does Mrs Danvers act? What is unusual about her behaviour? Why doesn’t de Winters use the room? What does Danvers say that is really bizarre? • Chapter 13: Why does the narrator now understand how much Danvers hates her? Who offers to come to lunch? What does the visitor say about Jack Favell? What are Maxim and Mrs Danvers arguing about when the narrator returns? What does the narrator think to herself at the end of the chapter?

13. Chapter 14+15: Preparation for the Ball/Miss Caroline de Winter • What does one of the guests ask Maxim about? How is Maxim pressured to do it? What does the narrator remark about being treated like a child? • How does she feel about the ball? Why is the narrator worried about her costume? What does Mrs Danvers suggest to her? Why was Mrs Danvers so friendly and what was her ulterior motive? • Chapter 15: what is everyone discussing at the beginning of the chapter? How does the narrator feel about the ball? How do her husband and all of the guests react when she comes downstairs? Who is waiting for her as she returns to her room? • Who comes to see the narrator and what does the narrator realise has happened? How does Maxim act towards his wife the rest of the evening? After everyone goes, where is the narrator left alone?

14. Chapter 16: Why Don’t You Jump • How does the narrator feel about her marriage at this point? Where is de Winter now? What does she confide to Frank over the phone? How does Frank respond when she starts talking about Rebecca? • What does the narrator think to herself when she sees Danvers? What does Danvers say about the marriage? What does Danvers say about watching the narrator in the house Rebecca used to live in? What does Danvers suggest she do? How are the two of them interrupted?

15. Chapter 17: Rebecca Has Won • What had happened in the bay? How does Danvers act towards the narrator after the events of the previous chapter? What are they going to try and do to dislodge the boat? Where has Maxim gone? What feeling does the narrator get? • Who is Captain Searle and why has he come to visit? What did the diver find in the water near the crashed boat? What does Captain Searle have to do? What does Maxim tell his wife? What question does he pose to her?

16. Chapter 18: The Truth About Rebecca • What happens between man and wife at the beginning of the chapter? Why does Maxim say he didn’t tell her? What does he say about loving Rebecca? How does the narrator feel about his revelation? • What type of wife was Rebecca? What did she do with Giles and her own first cousin? What did Rebecca say to Maxim before he killed her? How do you feel any husband would react in that situation? How did Maxim dispose of the body? How does the narrator try to comfort her husband?

17. Chapter 19+20: Colonel Julyan/ The Inquest • Who is Colonel Julyan? How does the narrator feel about her relationship with her husband now? How does she confront Mrs Danvers? What does the narrator realise about Mrs Danvers and where her allegiances lie? • What does Colonel Julyan say must happen? Who will be attending the inquest? What does Maxim say he is sorry about? What appears in all of the newspapers? • Chapter 20: What does the narrator decide to do at the inquest? Who does she meet and what do they do? What does the boat-builder say at the inquest? How does Maxim respond to the testimony? What does the coroner ask Maxim? What happens to the narrator that disrupts proceedings?

18. Chapter 21+22: A Visit from Jack Favell/Rebecca’s Diary • What verdict did the inquiry come to? Where does Maxim go and why? Who comes to visit? Who returns? What does Favell have and why is he suspicious? How does Favell threaten Maxim? What does Favell say to Colonel Julyan? • Chapter 22: What does Colonel Julyan say about Favell? Who does Favell think saw the incident? How does Favell question the man? What does the man say and do? Who does Favell call on next? • What does Mrs Danvers say about Rebecca’s relationships with men? What does Mrs Danvers have? What was written that confused the group? What does Danvers say Rebecca feared? When they found out she contacted a doctor, what is their immediate assumption? Why are they so worried?

19. Chapter 23+24: Doctor Baker/The Return to Manderley • What are maxim and his wife preparing for? Who was waiting for them at the crossroads? What time do they arrive at Baker’s house? What does Baker say when he is asked about Rebecca? What name did Rebecca give for her appointment? What does Doctor Baker reveal that the real reason for Rebecca’s visit was? • Chapter 24: What threat does Favell make? What conclusion does Colonel Julyan come to about Rebecca? What does Maxim believe about Rebecca’s intentions? What did Danvers decide to do? What happens to Manderley as they are returning? What do you think happened?

20. Topic 7: Not What it Seems • Generally, how would you say you feel about advertisements? Would you like there to be fewer on TV? Do you use AdBlock on your browser? • What do you think about adverts aimed at children? Think about toys or McDonalds. Do you think there should be restrictions? • “Laughter is the best medicine”. What do you think of this quote? Can laughing during a tough time help you get through it? • Broadly speaking, how do you feel about the media in your country? Do you feel it is mostly honest, mostly dishonest or something in between? • How do you feel if you find out you have to work on a project with other students? Do you enjoy working as part of a team, or prefer being alone when it comes to projects?

21. Topic 8: Follow the Clues • Do you think gambling is a social problem? Do you think it has a negative effect on society? • Do you believe in ghosts or any other supernatural phenomena? If yes, what led you to believe in them? • Have you ever had a friend or family member who did something you thought to be wrong? What did you do and how did they react? • Why do you think that we as a civilisation are so obsessed with crime and criminals? What about them do you think that people find interesting?

22. Topic 9: The Mind • Generally, do you think that education encourages or inhibits creativity? In Serbia specifically? How about globally or in general? • Would you say you have a good or bad memory? Do you often find yourself forgetting things? Do you find yourself going into a room and forgetting why? • If you could edit your own memories, would you do it? What types of things would you choose to erase? • Do you have any special strategies that you use when you have to study for a test? What is the easiest way for you to learn?

23. Topic 10: Just the Job • Is unemployment a serious issue in your home country? What percentage of the population is unemployed? What can be done to manage unemployment levels? • What kind of job would you like to do after you graduate? What types of skills are necessary for your selected job? What about it appeals to you? • How likely do you think it is that automation could have a negative impact on your future career? How and why? • Do you know anyone that has ever been “on the dole”? What do you imagine the worst thing about being unemployed would be?

24. Topic 11: Project Earth • What do you think about governments spending money on space exploration? Is it a useful thing to invest in or a waste of resources? • Do you think life would be better if we were to get back in touch with nature? For example, many people have never killed an animal for food, some have never even seen it in person. Is that a good or a bad thing? • If humans were to become extinct, do you think the world would be a better or worse place? How long do you think it would take for everything man has built to disappear?

25. Topic 12: Big Issues • What do you think the main causes of homelessness are? Does your city have a big problem with homelessness? What kind of support is offered for these people? • Why do you think that poverty still exists all over the world? Why haven’t developed countries managed to solve this issue? Do you think that they ever will? • Why do you think that the world is becoming more connected? What do you think the causes of globalisation are? Would you ever work for a multinational corporation and what do you think of them? • How important do you think that human rights are?