Rebecca's Transformation

Rebecca's Transformation

  • Submitted By: jozefina95
  • Date Submitted: 06/19/2011 5:47 PM
  • Category: English
  • Words: 1980
  • Page: 8
  • Views: 472

Jozefina Melaj
Mrs. Stasiv
English 10
June 11, 2011
The Heroine’s Transformation
In Du Maurier’s gothic novel Rebecca, the protagonist, a nameless narrator, outgoes a major character transformation throughout the novel. A number of motives led to the conclusion of the narrator undergoing a major character transformation. In the beginning there are many difficulties with her becoming comfortable with her role as the new Mrs. de Winter. In the introduction of the novel, the narrator is insecure, shy and inexperienced. She also cannot cope with her surroundings at the Manderley mansion. Lastly, she is experiencing difficulty having a relationship with her husband, which concludes her to think that Mr. de Winter is still in love with Rebecca, the first mistress of Manderley. However, near the ending of the novel, after the narrator finds out about her husband’s secret, she begins to show signs of confidence, courage, charisma, love, and most importantly, she reveals that she is finally comfortable in undertaking the role of the new mistress of Manderley. Therefore, she restores her past mistakes, uncertainties, and insecurities, which indicates that the new Mrs. de Winter undergoes a major character transformation.
The narrator is a victim from day one because she was born an orphan who worked as a paid “companion” to the wealthy Mrs. Van Hopper. She never really had a say in any important decisions in her life, which lead her into becoming the timid type. The heroine finally begins to slowly open up when Mrs. Van Hopper is confined in her room, because of her sickness, and Maxim and the narrator get to know each other. Then, the reader finds out that Mrs. Van Hopper is planning to go to New York to live with her daughter, but the narrator cannot bear to live without Mr. de Winter, so he asks her to marry her. When Mrs. Van Hopper finds out about the sudden engagement she does not approve and she says to the narrator in disgust: “Of course, you know why...

Similar Essays