In the novel Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, Maxim and the heroine’s marriage remains as a pivotal moment in the heroine’s life, where she finds herself entangled in the mess of what Rebecca had left behind in Manderley. Having met Maxim only once before in Monte Carlo, the narrator neither had the chance to know more about Maxim nor his late wife Rebecca. Although the marriage started off on the wrong foot, it managed to develop into a healthier and more stable relationship as the plot advanced.
First of all, the protagonist’s marriage starts out with much uncertainty and hesitance due to the lack of romantic feelings. During her time in Monte Carlo, the narrator, after realizing that Maxim truly wanted to marry her, quickly accepts Maxim’s suggestion of marriage. Their union, however, did not seem to be based on love, as she thinks to herself, “He had not said anything about being in love” (56). Also, Mrs. Van Hopper’s remarks on the narrator’s marriage: “You haven’t flattered yourself he’s in love with you?” (60) underscores the narrator’s doubts on this marriage. As seen from this, the heroine’s marriage did not seem to begin in the romantic way she wanted; but it instead started from Maxim’s abrupt and unsentimental confession. …show more content…
Throughout the book, the protagonist suffers from her insecurities by constantly trying to compare herself to Rebecca, who overshadowed her. For instance, she says to Frank, “And I realise, every day, that things I lack, confidence, grace, beauty, intelligence, wit--oh, all the qualities that mean most in a woman--she possessed” (131). Their marriage, however, changes into a healthy relationship only after the heroine discovers that Maxim never truly loved Rebecca. From then on, their marriage turns for the better in the end, with the protagonist saying, “It was going to be very different in the future”
First of all, the protagonist’s marriage starts out with much uncertainty and hesitance due to the lack of romantic feelings. During her time in Monte Carlo, the narrator, after realizing that Maxim truly wanted to marry her, quickly accepts Maxim’s suggestion of marriage. Their union, however, did not seem to be based on love, as she thinks to herself, “He had not said anything about being in love” (56). Also, Mrs. Van Hopper’s remarks on the narrator’s marriage: “You haven’t flattered yourself he’s in love with you?” (60) underscores the narrator’s doubts on this marriage. As seen from this, the heroine’s marriage did not seem to begin in the romantic way she wanted; but it instead started from Maxim’s abrupt and unsentimental confession. …show more content…
Throughout the book, the protagonist suffers from her insecurities by constantly trying to compare herself to Rebecca, who overshadowed her. For instance, she says to Frank, “And I realise, every day, that things I lack, confidence, grace, beauty, intelligence, wit--oh, all the qualities that mean most in a woman--she possessed” (131). Their marriage, however, changes into a healthy relationship only after the heroine discovers that Maxim never truly loved Rebecca. From then on, their marriage turns for the better in the end, with the protagonist saying, “It was going to be very different in the future”