How would you describe the change in the second Mrs. DeWinter (we never hear her name) over the course of Rebecca? What’s she like at Monte Carlo and at Manderley before and after she learns Maxim’s secret? Do you think there’s any single shot in the film that emblematizes her as a character at a particular point in time? You don’t have to answer all of these questions, but do consider the second Mrs DeWinter’s evolution.
10 thoughts on “Rebecca”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
I would say Mrs. Dewinter was more determined over the course of Rebecca. When Mrs. Dewinter was working at Monte Carlo under Mrs. Van Hopper she was quiet and shy and would feel she wasn´t confident in herself. But this changed when she got married and left for Manderley she was determined to change Mr. Va Hopper’s opinion because she didn´t believe she would make a good wife for him because she lacked experience and an idea of what it means to be a lady. Mrs. Dewinter set out to prove she could be a great wife. A shot that I would say shows her perfectly is when she tells Mrs. Danvers to throw all of Rebecca’s things out it is clear that Mrs. Danvers liked Rebecca more and would purposely sabotage Mrs. Dewinter. This scene showed how she was in more control of her situation and was determined to get past Rebecca she was going to stand up for herself in this situation. When earlier she was reserved and didn´t talk back or take action. Once she learns Max´s secret she is closer to him than before in the movie this fits with her trying to prove she could be a good wife to Max by comforting him while he´s going through difficult times. She was determined to make sure Max kept his head on level and not lose his temper and wanted to be around to make sure he was fine to comfort him.
For most of the film, the second Mrs. DeWinter is characterized as timid, shy, naive and innocent. Most of this characterization is apparent through her facial expressions and how she acts. She seems very unsure of herself and of her surroundings. Her characteristics remind me of how a shy schoolgirl would act, not like a woman about to get married. These traits of Mrs. DeWinter is seen in full force when her engagement is announced to Mrs. Van Hopper. She hides in the shadow of Mr. DeWinter and is too frightened to even tell her about her engagement. She is also secretive about her romance with him while in Monte Carlo. Also, after they have gotten married and return to his estate, the camera angles show juxtaposition of a small shy girl entering a huge house that seem to encapsulate her. Once at the mansion, she still doesn’t become a strong character. Still innocent and timid, she is completely put in the shadow of Rebecca. This act of being dwarfed by Dr.DeWinter’s ex wife only adds to her low confidence and self-esteem. This confidence that she lacks, however, does pick up a bit as the movie progresses. While Mr. DeWinter is away, she is more aware of her surroundings and her place in the estate. She treks to the forbidden west wing room where no one has been after Rebecca’s death. This scene shows a sense of confidence to go places in her home where beforehand she wouldn’t have dared to go into. Another scene that sticks out to me is the scene where she walks down the stairs at the party. Mr. DeWinter and the couple he is standing with are all not looking at her while she walks down. However, it is evident from her face that she is confident with what she has picked out. However, once Mr. DeWinter sees her in Rebecca’s outfit, and she sees his awful reaction, she reverts back to her low confidence self. I think that this shows that deep down she is still very timid and insecure about herself. Although she shows certain aspects of confidence in scenes throughout, she still has a tendency to revert back to her shy and uncertain self.
At the beginning of the film, the second Mrs. DeWinter is a timid young woman who is content to serve as a companion to the demanding Mrs. Van Hopper. She lacks self-confidence and seems to have low self-esteem, often being overshadowed by Mrs. Van Hopper’s forceful personality. Her personality stays much the same during her time with Mr. DeWinter, and her innocence draws Mr. DeWinter to her. Her personality remains the same during the beginning of her stay at Manderley. However, at Manderley, her shyness and insecurities are amplified by Mrs. Anderson and Beatrice Lacy. She feels like an outsider in her new home and believes she is unable to compare to the first Mrs. DeWinter. She is haunted by the presence and memories of Rebecca, who seems to cast a long shadow over Manderley. She struggles to adapt to her new role as the mistress of the house. After learning Mr. DeWinter’s secret, her perspective changes and gives her newfound strength and determination. Surprisingly, she becomes more assertive and willing to confront the ghosts of the past, taking matters into her own hands to protect her marriage. I believe a shot that best emblemizes Mrs. DeWinter’s character is when she descends the grand staircase at Manderley for the costume ball. In this scene, she is wearing a striking gown and appears confident and regal; however, she is unknowingly impersonating Rebecca. This shot symbolizes her inability to break the grasp of Rebecca, despite her best efforts to do so.
In the beginning of the film, Mrs. DeWinter is portrayed as an innocent and introverted young woman deeply lacking self confidence. Before Mrs. Dewinter marries and moves to Manderley, her character is defined by her employment to the wealthy, high maintenance, and vulgar Mrs. Van Hopper; expected to cater to her every need and wish, Mrs. DeWinter is naturally seen as subservient and lacking in self autonomy. As a result, she is also heavily restricted in her ability to form connections in the social world or even have much of an identity of her own outside her employment. In the context of the time period, her role as a companion to Mrs. Van Hopper aligns with the societal norms and expectations of women in Britain’s upper-class; career opportunities were limited for women and gender roles of the time deeply emphasized submissiveness in women. Mrs. DeWinter, like other women in her economical circle, were expected to be obedient and focused on their supportive roles, reinforcing her characterization as dependent, vulnerable, and timid. Soon, however, Mrs. DeWinter undergoes a remarkable transformation through her transition to Lady of the House upon marrying Mr. DeWinter. In her new role, her social status and responsibilities are elevated, eventually developing a new sense of confidence and ability to assert herself. At first, the expectations placed upon her are overwhelming as she believes she must live up to the memory and reputation of Rebecca, an idea reinforced by the extremely intimidating and off putting housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers. Mrs. DeWinter is initially constantly comparing herself, fearing she will be unable to fulfill her role as Lady of the House and loving wife to Mr. DeWinter, resulting in feelings of inadequacy. Upon discovering the truth about Rebecca’s death and Mr. DeWinter’s feelings toward her, however, Mrs. DeWinter undergoes some profound changes; Mr. DeWinter revealing he never loved Rebecca, and actually thought quite poorly of her, immediately boosts her own self confidence and sparks a sense of assurance in her she never felt before. Mrs. DeWinter becomes empowered by her new knowledge, allowing her to develop a sense of agency and an ability to confront her own fears and insecurities. As the film progresses from this point, Mrs. DeWinter is driven by her determination to help protect her husband from the consequences of Rebecca’s death; she begins asserting herself within her marriage as well as in her interactions with other people around the house. Additionally, she no longer feels overshadowed by the memory of Rebecca and, instead, actually confronts those who idealize her. Overall, Mrs. DeWinter goes through a profound evolution from the beginning of the film to the end, transforming from a young insecure, dependent, and fearful woman to a confident and empowered woman willing to take action to protect her marriage.
The 2nd Mrs. DeWinter changes significantly over the course of the film. In Monte Carlo she acts sweet, young, and naive. She is clearly incredibly timid and blindly in love with Maxim. This timidness stays with her when she first comes to Manderley but the naiveness is soon gone once she feels herself in the shadow of Rebecca. She quickly recognizes the disadvantage she is in and the reputation she must live up to. It also doesn’t feel like she truly has any power at Manderley, despite being the head of the household. She goes through another change after learning of Maxim’s secret. She quickly losses any last bit of her sweet and young nature but also with it most of her timidness. The 2nd Mrs. DeWinter quickly becomes more assertive and steps in to try and save Maxim, gaining power for herself. Maxim himself even comments on her significant change in character since he first met her. Overall I would describe the change in her as “growing up.” She loses her sense of dreamlike wonder about her whirlwind romance with Maxim and is faced with the harsh reality of living at Manderley.
I thought that the most distinguishable change in Mrs. DeWInter’s character became obvious when she fainted during her husband’s deposition. It was clear that she fainted in order to draw attention away from Mr. DeWinter’s anger, demonstrating intelligence that hadn’t been highlighted prior to this scene. She had been played as a nervous pushover, but the dialogue after this scene reveals a passionate and caring woman who is genuinely in love with her husband.
At the movie’s beginning, the second Mrs. DeWinter is seen as very anxious and fearful and quakes at the sight and mention of the first Mrs. DeWinter or whenever Maxim shows a hint of anger. This part of her character is especially seen when she angers Maxim by going off to find Jasper, even though Maxim specifically told her not to do so. Maxim is seen walking off angrily and approaching her sternly and roaringly. She then begins to burst into tears instantly and seeks approval from Maxim that everything is alright. Her expressions are only fueled by the ambiguity of whether Maxim loves or cares for her in how everyone in Manderlay seems to feel for the first Mrs. DeWinter. However, once she is told of Maxim’s secret, her manner almost instantaneously changes, and she begins to feel more confident in her love for Maxim and that Maxim is capable of loving her. She learns that Maxim hated Rebecca, and all her fears and suspicions in his actions were quelled. Until then, Mrs. DeWinter was unsure of their love for each other and if Maxim was truly devoted in how she showed him.
At Monte Carlo, the protagonist is timid and fairly lacks any sort of self confidence. She is too afraid to communicate with Mrs. Can Hopper, her employer, about her experiences with Mr. DeWinter. Her fear is so overbearing that Mr. DeWinter has to be the one to share the news of the engagement to Mrs. Van Hopper. She continues to act this way when she arrives at Manderley. There she is constantly tormented by the memories of her husband’s late wife Rebecca. From the housekeepers to her own husband, the protagonist feels pressured to fulfill the standards set by Rebecca. Frustrated with the state she’s in, she begins to assert her place in the household. One instance in which she does so is when she tells Mrs. Danvers to get rid of all of Rebecca’s belongings. This newfound confidence quickly fizzles away, however, when she discovers her husband’s secret. She reverts back to who she was at the beginning of the film, scared and clueless.
The second Mrs. DeWinter undergoes a significant transformation throughout the story. At the beginning of the film in Monte Carlo, she is timid, insecure, and overshadowed by the memory and reputation of the first Mrs. DeWinter, Rebecca. She lacks confidence and struggles with her sense of identity and place in the world.
Before learning about Maxim’s secret, she starts to grow more comfortable in her role as the lady of the house. I believe that the turning point was when she confronted the lady (who was obsessed with Rebecca). The scene with the dress is one of the last scenes which shows how she is haunted/victimized by the ghost of Rebecca as a result constantly comparing herself to Rebecca. At this point, she is still hesitant and unsure of her own actions and decisions despite putting in an effort to carve out her own path by hosting a costume party.
After learning Maxim’s secret and the truth of Rebecca’s death, she gains a sense of empowerment from the truth about Rebecca’s manipulative and malevolent character traits. This revelation allows her to find her voice and stand up for herself as she no longer has a desire to be like Rebecca because Maxim was so afraid of her. She goes from a timid and submissive character to a woman who is willing to challenge the lies and deceit that have been surrounding her as well as protect her husband because of this newfound, turning point in their relationship.
A shot that emblematizes her character is scene where she descends from the grand staircase at Manderley at the costume ball which represents her transformation. In this scene, her dress and manner displays confidence and grace. Marking her newfound strength and self-assuredness, standing as a symbol of her growth and metamorphosis from a shy and uncertain individual.
I would describe the change in the second Mrs. DeWinter over the course of the film as a “coming of age” into the ideal Victorian woman. In Monte Carlo, she is presented as shy and naive girl. She is eager to please those around her and does not have much autonomy. Her behavior is reinforced by those around her, Mrs. Van Hopper and Mr. DeWinter, who are constantly talking down to her. When she moves to Manderley, she goes through a transition period where she is still naive and young. Her politeness becomes apprehension about her new life. She is haunted by the image of an idealized aristocratic wife in Rebecca. She is made even more powerless in this new world despite her position as the lady of the house; Mrs. Danvers even as a servant has power of her. She is constantly bounced between states of happiness and apprehension, causing her strain and eventual depression. However, as she becomes more familiar with her surroundings, she becomes more curious and brave. She asks questions about Rebecca and pursues the truth, unfortunately this is in an effort to please her husband. She tries to gain her agency by acting more like the lady of the house. Finally, and perhaps most absurdly, after she discovers the secret of Mr. DeWinter, she gains relief and to some extent happiness, despite being nervous about the newfound discoveries. She comes into her role as the lady of the house and this is noted by Mr. DeWinter who notes how she lost her “funny young lost look.” Overall, this evolution begs us to question these “Victorian” ideals. Why does she “grow up” upon learning her husband is behind the death of his first wife? What does the film intend to say about the morals and behavior of the aristocracy?