“The moment of crisis had come, and I must face it. My old fears, my diffidence, my shyness, my hopeless sense of inferiority, must be conquered now and thrust aside.”
I’m so glad I reread this classic story. It is a stark reminder of certain white males’ power both historically and in the present day. Maxim, aptly named to represent a general truth, has money and privilege. He is believable. The unnamed narrator is fragile, young, naive, and out of place in the world of the rich. Rebecca’s personality and spirit are alive and well in Manderley. It’s a well-known literary book and movie. It is eerie for how timeless it remains. How much of the drama is in the narrator’s mind? How much of the drama is part of the plot? Which characters are sane? I can pose so many questions, but I am not sure I can answer them with any conviction.
Manderley, the house, is the only understandable character. It reflects the cycle of life with all of the glory of the trees, flowers, and animals. All of the others are harboring secrets that encumber their humanity.
