The Classics discussion

This is for discussion on Chapters 15-21.

First of all, I can't believe she started to trust Mrs. Danvers. I knew her suggestions for the costume ball weren't what they seemed. I could feel her isolation afterwards and was believing that Maxim didn't love her. But what a revelation by chapter 21!! I figured things had to start spilling out soon. I was starting to get anxious for a resolution.

I love how this book keeps revealing plot twists right up until the very end.

Just as we don't really see the protagonist, we also don't really see Rebecca. We get an idea of her personality, her beauty and her appearance but her face is always left to the imagination. Even the protagonist never gets to see her. The painting done of her hangs in the Academy and not in Manderley.

Finally in this section we get to the crux of the matter with the narrator and Rebecca. "I had so identified myself with Rebecca that my own dull self did not exist." She also mentions her "own dull personality submerged at last" when she dresses up for the ball. Her weak personality is almost always oppressed by Rebecca at the house and put down by Mrs. Danvers and occasionally Max.

I also love how she finally gets a backbone after the incident at the ball as well as how they talk about absolutely nothing when Col. Julyan first comes over.

Though I knew something was coming, I'm still really impressed by how shocked and excited I was to read it. Suddenly everything is coming out.

Oddly, I like Maxim more now as a murderer than I did when he was a grieving man. Perhaps because we finally know who he is and his history? Everything's making more sense. I still can't decide how I feel about him, but I think the last chapters will tell.

I loved the little moments of calm also- lunch with Col. Julyan, watching the children on the beach... and then chaos.

(still taking my sweet time on this book, I know.)

I felt the same way about being shocked. You knew it was building to something...something sinister. I loved it! I liked Maxim better after as well because you realize that he really did love her and you understood his agony.