Dec 20, 2009

Rebecca | Setting

With the exception of the opening chapters in Monte Carlo, Rebecca takes place at the country estate of Manderley. The now famous first sentence, "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again," prepares the reader for the importance of the manor house. Du Maurier adheres to the Gothic tradition by giving psychological importance to the house, which becomes almost a character in its own right. The mansion's rooms provide clues to Rebecca's character. There is a stigma attached to the sea, the site of Rebecca's drowning. Maxim orders Mrs. Danvers to redecorate the east wing, which...