Mrs Du Winter In Rebecca

In Daphne du Maurier’s novel, Rebecca, the nameless narrator, Mrs. du Winter, is portrayed as having primary personality traits that contribute to the overall significance and role of the character. Mrs. du Winter mysteriously falls in love with Maxim after he kills his old, unwanted wife Rebecca. Mrs. du Winter barely questions Maxim, and chooses to ignore the fact he committed a murder. This makes the readers question her true intention and ability to be an educated, independent woman who can differ from right and wrong. In the novel Rebecca, written by Daphne du Maurier, the narrator is paranoid, curious, and jealous. Throughout the novel, Mrs. du Winter obviously suffers from the mental condition of paranoia. She often repeatedly questions significant things in her life, like her relationship with Maxim. As she and Maxim fight, Mrs. du Winter says “‘I suppose that’s why you married me, you knew I was dull and quiet and inexperienced’” (du Maurier 144). Mrs. du Winter often questions her own marriage, doing more harm than good, and causing her to feel it is always in danger. Mrs. du Winter mentally attempts to forget about her obsession over Rebecca, “She was dead.
du Winter compulsively, unhealthily obsesses over her jealously of Rebecca. She unwillingly thinks about Rebecca a lot. “I could not help it if she came to me in thoughts, in dreams… Little sentences, little reproofs reminding me every hour, every day” (du Maurier 137). Contributing to her insanity, Mrs. du Winter has little to no control over her obsessiveness for everything about Rebecca. Throughout the novel, Mrs. du Winter repeats the line several times: “ (du Maurier). This shows that these words repeat over and over in her troubled head, aching to be released onto her tongue. Though she says it a lot, she is never truly satisfied and continues to have thoughts about Rebecca. Mrs. du Winter shows envy of Rebecca’s achievements, especially with Maxim, even though she knows Rebecca is