Discover timeless tales with the Umatilla Literary Society's Classics Book Club, where we explore the enduring stories that have shaped literature. This month we will read Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier. An innocent young bride feels oppressed by her new husband's late wife. Tense and atmospheric and filled with gaslighting, this will be a fun discussion.
Book Club Questions - SPOILERS - read after you finish
The Narrator and Identity
The Nameless Protagonist: Why do you think Daphne du Maurier never gives the narrator a first name? How does this lack of identity shape her relationship with Maxim and the memory of Rebecca?
The "Imposter": Does the narrator’s constant insecurity make her a sympathetic character, or did you find her passivity frustrating?
Growth or Regression: By the end of the novel, has the narrator truly found her voice, or has she simply traded her identity to become a co-conspirator in Maxim’s life?
The Shadow of Rebecca
Presence vs. Absence: Rebecca is dead before the book begins, yet she is the most vivid character in the story. How does du Maurier use setting and objects (the morning room, the monogrammed stationery, the scent of azaleas) to keep her alive?
The Big Reveal: Before the truth about Rebecca’s character is revealed, what was your initial impression of her? Did your opinion of Maxim change once you learned the reality of their marriage?
Power and Manipulation
Mrs. Danvers: What do you think motivated Mrs. Danvers’ obsession with Rebecca? Is she a villain, or a grieving woman driven to madness?
Maxim’s Morality: Maxim de Winter is often framed as a romantic lead, but he is also a man who committed a violent crime and married a woman half his age to "start over." Is he a hero, or is he just as manipulative as Rebecca was?
Class Dynamics: How do the rigid social structures of the 1930s contribute to the narrator’s isolation? Would this story work in a modern setting?
Symbolism and Setting
Manderley as a Character: The book famously begins with "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again." In what ways does the house act as an antagonist to the narrator?
The Ending: Was the fire at Manderley a tragedy, a form of divine justice, or a necessary "cleansing" for the couple to move forward?
The Costume Ball: The scene where the narrator unknowingly wears Rebecca’s costume is the climax of her humiliation. Why was this specific moment so much more damaging than Mrs. Danvers’ verbal taunts?
Fun Fact: When du Maurier was writing Rebecca, she was living in Alexandria, Egypt, and was homesick for Cornwall. Many believe the "suffocating" feeling of the book was a reflection of her own feelings of displacement.
Breakdown suggested by Gemini AI.
