Daphne

Daphne du Maurier’s “The Birds”, is well known for its apocalyptic plot and the idea of nature turning against humanity. It is her original work that is eventually used in the famous film, The Birds by Alfred Hitchcock. Although it was a bestseller, Daphne du Maurier never got much credit for writing “The Birds” or anything in general. She “enjoyed great popular success over the years, but during her lifetime she received comparatively little critical esteem” (theguardian). Unfortunately, critics seemed to disregard her passion and skill in her works. In addition, Hitchcock’s film dwarfed du Maurier’s short story in popularity. It may seem like du Maurier’s “The Birds” wouldn’t have any good criticism, but in recent years, her short story has…

head, their little stabbing beaks sharp as pointed forks” (Daphne du Maurier’s The Birds). This enthralling scene is an excerpt from none other than Daphne du Maurier’s The Birds, and it inserts a perfect picture in the reader’s head of the suffering Nat is undergoing. In the short story The Birds, Nat must defend his family from the invasion of birds, and the author creates a suspenseful story with strong imagery during and after the raid of the birds. On the other hand, Alfred Hitchcock…

Rebecca was a movie that was based off of a book written by Daphne Du Maurier’s. The novel was written a few years before the 1940’s release of Rebecca. A film about a wealthy man marrying an orphaned women who only knows the wealthy life through her job as a companion. The young women is haunted by her new husband’s late wife. Maxim de Winters (Laurence Olivier) is a very calm and knowingly cool character. He knows how to take control of a situation like he did when Mrs. deWinters (Joan…

Movies, books, and short stories all create and utilize suspense in many different ways, shapes, and forms. From the tension and worry feeling shown in movies, to foreshadowing about what will happen in literature. Author Daphne du Maurier and filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock both used many ways to create suspense in their takes on the horror story, “The Birds.” However, only one author utilized suspense the best. Between du Maurier’s short story and Hitchcock's film, Hitchcock’s film did a better job…

In Daphne Du Maurier’s novel, Rebecca, manipulation, deceit, and dishonesty lead to deception. Mrs. Danvers, the housemaid of Manderley, manipulates Mrs. de Winter into dressing up just as Rebecca had the year prior, which threatens her marriage to Maxim. Rebecca was the epitome of deceit during her time spent at Manderley. She lied about sneaking around with other men, including her cousin, and was pregnant with another man’s baby. Mr. de Winter was dishonest with Mrs. de Winter about his past…

In Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier, the author uses detail, diction, and imagery as literary techniques to create and shift throughout the passage between moods of mystery, a nightmare, and nostalgia. These moods evolve throughout the excerpt chronologically in three different segments. The atmosphere evolves chronologically as the narrator physically advances on her path to Manderley in her dream. In the excerpt from Rebecca, du Maurier uses literary devices, mainly diction, detail, and imagery…

In the novel Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, the main character, Mrs. De Winter, grows immensely through her epiphanies. At the onset of the story, the main character is full of self-doubt and does not know herself. She believes that her husband does not love her and that she is inferior to his first wife, Rebecca. As the novel progresses, the main character has an epiphany and realizes that she is worthy of happiness and her husband’s love. The housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, also experienced an…

Confucius once said “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier can illustrate how the characters undergo change when they faced with conflicts. Through the use of paradox themes, Du Maurier depicts the complex characteristics of the characters of Rebecca. The strong elements of symbolism throughout the story show the complication of the characters. In the story, the flowers are used as symbols. The most important instance of this is the…

Daphne du Maurier 's novel Rebecca, is a good example of unique and intriguing writing. It has achieved critical praise inarguably due to its uniqueness in literature especially as compared to those which fall under the female gothic category. The author uses attractive themes which can easily attract the masses throughout diverse generations. This book exposes a story of a narrator who faces lots of challenges not only in her marriage but also in her social circle. There exist certain…

In Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the story of Apollo and Daphne exhibits a strong sense of control, power, and dominance. There is a division of power distinguished between Apollo and Cupid, as well as between Apollo and Daphne. This is expressed many times through the alliteration, catalogues, and metaphors used throughout the text, as well as in the symbolism that occurs in this story. ALLITERTION While Apollo is calling out to Daphne, he uses catalogues in an effort to convince her of who he is,…