The birth of a literary classic
In 1937, in the hot atmosphere of Alexandria, Daphne du Maurier, wife of a military man stationed in Egypt, faced a creative block while working on a novel that seemed to resist her hands. The first pages, full of frustration, ended up being forgotten. Despite the difficulties, her nostalgia for England and her imagination led her to create a fascinating and haunting world that gave life to Rebecca, a work that, since its publication in 1938, has sold millions of copies and has been adapted on several occasions to the cinema, with the most emblematic version by Alfred Hitchcock.
A misinterpretation of love
Over the years, Rebecca has been considered a romantic story, but Du Maurier regretted that the true core of the story was overshadowed. The plot revolves around an unnamed young woman who, in a mansion marked by the shadow of her late predecessor, finds herself caught in an internal struggle between love and jealousy. The figure of Rebecca, a powerful and fascinating woman, represents a threat to the protagonist, who is trapped in her own insecurity.
Different perspectives on femininity
From a contemporary perspective, the figure of Rebecca can be interpreted as a symbol of female empowerment, while the protagonist is perceived as a person who, as some would say, is an ‘NPC’ in her own life. This dynamic reveals a complex relationship between the two women, where love and possession mix in a disturbing way.
The psychology of the characters
Du Maurier’s ability to create characters with psychological depth is evident. The relationship between the young woman and Maxim de Winter, her husband, is marked by secrets and betrayals, and the final revelation about Rebecca transforms the reader’s perception. In his film adaptation, Hitchcock softened some of the more sinister implications of the story, presenting a lighter version that distorted the intensity of the original account.
The complexities of identity
A fascinating aspect of Du Maurier’s life is his own struggle with his sexual identity. His biographer, Margaret Forster, reveals that Du Maurier lived with significant internal repression, including relationships with women that influenced his work. The figure of Mrs. Danvers, the butler, becomes an emblematic example of the representation of female sexuality in fiction, reflecting the social tensions of the time.
A literary and cultural legacy
Rebecca’s influence extends beyond book pages and movie screens. It has become a cultural reference that continues to inspire adaptations and reinterpretations. The novel, with its layers of meaning and emotional complexity, continues to resonate with contemporary readers, who can see in it a reflection on power, jealousy and female identity.
