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Character Overview
Rebecca de Winter was the uncanny first wife of Maximillian "Maxim" de Winter who although is deceased throughout the entire novel, dominates fundamental moments of the plot and asserts power over the other characters and her former estate of Manderley.

As the plot advances, insights are shown into Rebecca’s true characteristics, in which she disguised with acts of kindness and virtuosity. As the enigma of her death is unravelled, her predatory double-life comes to light.

Memory of Rebecca
The perfect woman; Rebecca is depicted as charming, intelligent and a great wife. She is given credit for the sublimity of Manderley due to her raved about fancy-dress balls and fine taste, in which even Maxim tributes for the beauty of his estate. However, this performance fades and the true, manipulative side of Rebecca is slowly hinted towards as well as Maxim’s strong hatred for her.

Even though Rebecca is dead, her presence lingers as she remains the mistress of the house with Mrs Danvers preserving her bedroom, as well as the other staff at Manderley still obeying the set routine orders of Rebecca. Furthermore, her uncanny influence over others is heavily illustrated through the new wife of Maxim de Winter as she faces constant scrutiny and is daunted by the concept that she remains in Rebecca’s shadow. Supernatural themes have been discussed in criticism of Daphne du Maurier’s novel, as it has been mentioned Rebecca’s remembrance is vampiric, due to her pale complexion, black hair and most importantly her death-defying spirit.

Mrs Danvers
It has been made clear that Rebecca had an intimate friendship with her maid Mrs Danvers who cared for her since she was a child. Mrs Danvers is one of the few characters who Rebecca did not fully deceit, and therefore knew of her true characteristics and promiscuity. During the novel, Mrs Danvers displays an unhealthy obsession for Rebecca suggested through the preservation of Rebecca’s former bedroom and biased resentment towards the new Mrs de Winter. The 1940 film adaption by Alfred Hitchcock looks at this obsession and explores the theme of homosexuality.

Relationships
Unhappily married, Rebecca and Maxim held an empty union for the sake of reputation as Rebecca was off philandering with different men in London. Her one notable affair was with her first cousin, Jack Favell, with the intimacy of their relationship shown as he made visits with her close friend Mrs Danvers after her death, and also his attitude and presence during her inquest. Rebecca’s sexuality is further highlighted when she was described as having a malformed uterus, confirming she is the archetype of 20th Century values of women being married, monogamous and childbearing.

Death
After learning that she has terminal cancer, Rebecca manipulates Maxim into murdering her by telling him that she was pregnant with another man’s child that she’ll raise under the conception that it was Maxim’s. Engulfed with rage, her husband shot her then placed her body in a boat he later sunk. This manipulation can be seen as an act of final vengeance as she knows Maxim will be held accountable. Given that the details of her death are only provided by the account of Maxim, some critics argue that instead of a wholly malicious person, Rebecca is actually misunderstood victim of misogyny of the 20th Century.