Rebecca:A Genuine Romantic and Typical British Contemporary Novel Overlooked by Critics

141 Pages·2017·0.75 MB·English

Sudan University of Science & Technology
College of Graduate Studies

College of Languages

:
Rebecca A Genuine Romantic and
Typical British Contemporary Novel
Overlooked by Critics
ﻞﻴﺻأ ﻲﺴﻧﺎﻣور ﻊﺑﺎﻃ تاذ ﺔﻳاور :ﺎﻜﻴﺑر
ةﺮﺻﺎﻌﻤﻟا ﺔﻴﻧﺎﻄﻳﺮﺒﻟا ﺔﻳاوﺮﻠﻟ لﺎﺜﻣو
دﺎـﻘﻨﻟا ﺎﻬﻨﻋ ﻞـﻓﺎﻐﺗ

A Thesis Submitted in Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of
Ph.D. in English Literature

Submitted By
Tahra Abdelgadir Mohamed Ahmed
Supervised by
Dr. Mahmoud Ali Ahmed
2017
Dedication

To my parents and children
To Daphne du Maurier

ii
Acknowledgements
All praise is due to Allah, the Almighty, for His guidance and assistance.
I am grateful to my supervisor Dr. Mahmoud Ali Ahmed whose
encouragement and support I do much appreciate. Sudan University of
Science & Technology/College of Graduate Studies deserves special thanks
for allowing me the opportunity to bring those long-borne ideas to light. I
am indebted to my daughter Eiman and my son Mohammad for their
considerable help in collecting the material of the study and for the strain
they had to endure with me until I accomplished this hard task.

iii
Abstract
The prejudiced attitude of the English novelist Daphne du Maurier’s
contemporaries towards her novel Rebecca, 1938 and their inattentive
reading of the novel established the motive for this research. Critics of the
time thought it had no sufficient merit for systematic study and placed it
among lowbrow popular literature. It was shunned by chief critical studies,
and du Maurier was condemned as an idle dreamer. Their claim rested on
shaky assumption that it was a romantic novel. The aim of the researcher is
to conduct a critical analysis of the novel to refute their allegations and
confirm it as a worthy piece of literary creation by clarifying the depth and
mysteries it contains. To achieve that aim, the pluralistic or eclectic
approach, which maintains that effective criticism requires the use of all
methods, is employed. The researcher has questioned the conventional
methods used in the assessment of literary works underlining their
inadequacy to offer a concrete conceptual definition for this purpose.
Accordingly, the two claims of the research title have been addressed. The
discussion of the traditional definitions of romance has proved the non-
romanticism of the novel in that sense. It is still confirmed as a romantic
story as seen from its author’s perspective and her perception of romance
abstracted from her article on romantic love, hence the ‘genuine romantic’.
The second segment, ‘typical British contemporary novel’, is predicated on
the researcher’s arguement against the aforementioned accusation that
Rebecca is a stale piece of fiction. This has been disproved through testing
the novel against the British literature in the 1930s. The study is hoped to be
a beneficial contribution in the literary and academic provinces and to profit
other researchers to carry out further related studies.
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The Abstract in Arabic Language
ثﺣﺑﻟا صﻠﺧﺗﺳﻣ
هﺎ�ﺟﺗ رﯾرو�ﻣ و�ﯾد ﻲ�ﻧﻓاد ﺔ�ﯾزﯾﻠﺟﻧﻻا ﺔﯾﺋاورﻟا يرﺻﺎﻌﻣﻟ لﻣﺎﺣﺗﻣﻟا فﻗوﻣﻟا وھ ثﺣﺑﻟا اذﮭﻟ ﻊﻓادﻟا
وﻠﺧﺗ ﺔﯾاورﻟا نأ تﻗوﻟا كﻟذ ﻲﻓ دﺎﻘﻧﻟا دﻘﺗﻋا .ﺔﯾاورﻟا هذﮭﻟ ﺔﯾﺣطﺳﻟا مﮭﺗءارﻗو (١٩٣٨) ﺎﻛﯾﺑر ﺎﮭﺗﯾاور
ت��ﻓزﻋ ﺎ��ﻣﻛ لﯾﺋ��ﺿﻟا ﻲﺑﻌ��ﺷﻟا بدﻷا نﻣ��ﺿ ﺎھوﻔﻧ��ﺻو ةدﺎ��ﺟ ﺔ��ﺳاردﺑ ﻰ��ظﺣﺗ ﻲ��ﻛﻟ ﺔ��ﯾﻓﺎﻛﻟا ﺔ��ﻣﯾﻘﻟا ن��ﻣ
مﻋز�ﻟا اذ�ھ س�ﺳﺄﺗ .ﺔ�ﻣﻟﺎﺣ در�ﺟﻣ ﺎ�ﮭﻧﺄﺑ رﯾرو�ﻣ و�ﯾد ﻲ�ﻧﻓاد ت�ﻧﯾدأ و ﺎﮭﻧﻋ ﺔﯾدﻘﻧﻟا ﺔﯾﺳﺎﺳﻷا تﺎﺳاردﻟا
ﺔ�ﯾاورﻠﻟ يد�ﻘﻧ ل�ﯾﻠﺣﺗ ءار�ﺟإ ث�ﺣﺑﻟا اذھ نﻣ ﻲﻓدھ .ﺔﯾﺳﻧﺎﻣور ﺔﯾاور ﺎﻛﯾﺑر نﺄﺑ طوﻠﻐﻣ ضارﺗﻓا ﻰﻠﻋ
مدﺧﺗ�ﺳﻣﻟا ﺞﮭﻧ�ﻣﻟا .ﺎ�ﮭﺑ ةدو�ﺟوﻣﻟا رار�ﺳﻻاو ق�ﻣﻌﻟا فﺷﻛﺑ ﺔﯾﺑدﻷا ﺎﮭﺗﻣﯾﻗ تﺎﺑﺛإو ءﺎﻋدﻻا اذھ ضﺣدﻟ
ﺔ�ﯾدﯾﻠﻘﺗﻟا ﺞھﺎ�ﻧﻣﻟا ثﺣﺎﺑﻟا شﻗﺎﻧ .ﻰﺗﺷ ﺞھﺎﻧﻣ نﻣ سﺑﺗﻘﯾ يذﻟا يددﻌﺗﻟا ﺞﮭﻧﻣﻟا وھ فدﮭﻟا كﻟذ قﯾﻘﺣﺗﻟ
مﺗ ﮫﯾﻠﻋ ءً ﺎﻧﺑ .ضرﻐﻟا اذﮭﺑ ﻲﻔﯾ ددﺣﻣ فﯾرﻌﺗ وذ موﮭﻔﻣ مﯾدﻘﺗ نﻋ ﺎھزﺟﻋ ً ﺎﻧﯾﺑﻣ ﺔﯾﺑدﻷا لﺎﻣﻋﻷا مﯾﯾﻘﺗﻟ
مو��ﮭﻔﻣﻟ ﺔ��ﯾدﯾﻠﻘﺗﻟا تﺎ��ﻔﯾرﻌﺗﻟا ﺔ��ﺷﻗﺎﻧﻣﺑ .ناو��ﻧﻌﻟا ﺎﻣﮭﻧﻣ��ﺿﺗﯾ نﯾذ��ﻠﻟا نﯾﻣو��ﮭﻔﻣﻟا تﺎ��ﺑﺛﻹ ﺔ��ﯾاورﻟا ل��ﯾﻠﺣﺗ
ﺔﯾ�ﺳﻧﺎﻣور ث�ﺣﺑﻟا ب�ﺗﺎﻛ ت�ﺑﺛا ك�ﻟذ ﻊ�ﻣو .ﺔ�ﯾاورﻟا ﻰ�ﻠﻋ ﺎﮭﻗﺎﺑطﻧا مدﻋ تﺑﺛ ﺔﯾﻛﯾﺗﻧﺎﻣورﻟاو ﺔﯾﺳﻧﺎﻣورﻟا
ﺔﯾ�ﺳﻧﺎﻣورﻠﻟ ﺎ�ﮭﻣﮭﻓ نﯾ�ﺑﯾ ﻲ�ﺳﻧﺎﻣورﻟا بﺣﻟا ناوﻧﻌﺑ ﺎﮭﻟ لﺎﻘﻣ نﻣ صﻠﺧﺗﺳﻣﻟا ﺎﮭﺗﺑﺗﺎﻛروظﻧﻣ نﻣ ﺔﺻﻘﻟا
ءز�ﺟﻟا نوﻣ�ﺿﻣ ﺎ�ﻣأ .ﻲ�ﻘﯾﻘﺣ وأ ﻲﻠ�ﺻأ ﻲﺳﻧﺎﻣور ﻊﺑﺎط تاذ ﺔﯾاور ﺎﮭﻧﺄﺑ ﺎﻛﯾﺑر فﺻو نﺎﻛ ﺎﻧھ نﻣو
ث�ﺣﺎﺑﻟا ﺔ�ﻋﺎﻧﻗ ﻰ�ﻠﻋ ﻲ�ﻧﺑﻣ و�ﮭﻓ ةر�ﺻﺎﻌﻣﻟا ﺔ�ﯾﻧﺎطﯾرﺑﻟا ﺔﯾاورﻠﻟ لﺎﺛﻣ ﺎﻛﯾﺑر نأ وھو ناوﻧﻌﻟا نﻣ ﻲﻧﺎﺛﻟا
مﻋز�ﻟا ك�ﻟذ د�ﻧﻓ د�ﻗو .لذ�ﺗﺑﻣ لٍ ﺎ�ﺑ ﻲ�ﺻﺻﻗ ل�ﻣﻋ ﺎ�ﮭﻧأ ضر�ﺗﻔﯾ يذ�ﻟاو ًﺎﻘﺑﺎ�ﺳ روﻛذ�ﻣﻟا مﺎﮭﺗﻻا نﻼطﺑﺑ
نأ ث�ﺣﺎﺑﻟا و�ﺟرﯾ .نﯾرﺷﻌﻟا نرﻘﻟا تﺎﯾﻧﯾﺛﻼﺛ ﻲﻓ ﻲﻧﺎطﯾرﺑﻟا بدﻷا سﯾﯾﺎﻘﻣ ﻰﻠﻋ ءً ﺎﻧﺑ ﺔﯾاورﻟا ﺔﺳاردﺑ
ﻲ�ﻓ نﯾﺛﺣﺎ�ﺑﻟا ن�ﻣ هر�ﯾﻏ ﮫ�ﻧﻣ دﯾﻔﺗ�ﺳﯾ نأ و ﻲﻣﯾدﺎﻛﻻاو ﻲﺑدﻷا نﯾﻟﺎﺟﻣﻟا ﻲﻓ ًادﯾﻔﻣ ًﺎﻣﺎﮭﺳإ ﺔﺳاردﻟا لﺛﻣﺗ
.ﺔﻠﺻﻟا تاذ تﺎﺳاردﻟا نﻣ دﯾزﻣﻟا ءارﺟأ

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Title page i
Dedication ii
Acknowledgements iii
Abstract iv
The Abstract in Arabic Language v
Table of contents vi
Chapter One

Introduction
1.1. Background 2
1.2. Definition of Terms 4
1.3. Statement of the Research Problem 4
1.4. Objectives of the Study 6
1.5. Significance of the Study 6
1.6. Research Questions and Hypotheses 7
Chapter Two

Literature Review
2.1. British Fiction in the 1930s 10
2.2. Free Love 15
2.3. Modernity and Modernism 16
Chapter Three

Research Methodology
3.1. Introduction 19
3.2. The Critical Approach 19
3.3. Symbolism 20
Chapter Four

Theoretical Analysis and Discussion
4.1. Introduction 22
4.2. Rebecca is a Genuine Romantic Novel 23
4.2.1. Verification of the First Hypothesis 25
vi
4.2.2. Verification of the Second Hypothesis 28
4.2.3. Du Maurier’s Perception of Romance 35
4.2.3.1. Cynical View 36
4.2.3.2. As Inferred from Rebecca 44
4.2.4. Verification of the Third Hypothesis
47
4.2.4.1. The Romantic Portrayal in the Novel 47
4.2.4.1.1. Setting 48
4.2.4.1.2. Theme 53
4.2.4.1.3. Romantic Love 61
4.2.4.1.4. Characterization 66
4.2.4.1.5. Style 85
4.3. Rebecca is a Typical British Contemporary Novel 90
4.3.1. Verification of the Fourth Hypothesis 91
4.3.2. Verification of the Fifth Hypothesis 108
4.3.3. Verification of the Sixth Hypothesis 116
Chapter Five
Conclusion and Recommendations
5.1. Summary 123
5.2. Suggestions for Further Studies 130
References 131

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Chapter One
Introduction
Chapter One
Introduction
1.1. Background
Rebecca (1938), an admirable novel written by the English novelist
Daphne du Maurier (1907-1989), is a great work of literature. The novel,
however, has been wronged by contemporary critics; it was ignored,
underestimated, abused and underrated. The writer of this study believes that
the novel must be re-read and viewed with new appreciation in order to take
its position among the greatest canonical works of literature.
The novel tells the story of a young orphan girl (heroine and narrator)
who was working as a hired companion for a Mrs Van Hopper, an old and
terrible American woman. She was in France at the Hôtel Côte d’Azur in
Monte Carlo with Mrs Van Hopper when she met Mr de Winter (the hero), a
very rich man and the owner of Manderley. He was there immediately after
the death of his first wife Rebecca. The heroine loved him, and they got
married shortly after their encounter.
In her new home, Manderley, the heroine suffered from Rebecca’s strong
influence in the house. The favourable image which she drew a bout
Rebecca constituted a source of restless worry, and constructed a strong
barrier between her and her husband believing that he still loved Rebecca.
Her youthful hopes that she could overcome this barrier were obstructed by
Mrs Danvers, the arrogant housekeeper who brought up Rebecca, and who
was desperate to keep Rebecca’s influence in the house.
An explosion caused by the collision of a stranded ship with Rebecca’s
drowned boat disclosed the truth. Rebecca’s body was found in the drowned
boat. Only then did the heroine come close to her husband. He then told her
2
that he had killed Rebecca. It turned out that she is unlike the picture in the
heroine’s mind—quite the reverse.
As the barriers between them were removed by the unearthing of the truth
and the burial of Rebecca’s body, Mr and Mrs de Winter struggled together
to acquit Mr de Winter from the murder of Rebecca. They succeeded;
Rebecca was reported as having committed suicide, but Manderley was
burnt up, most probably by Mrs Danvers, being already distressed by
Rebecca’s death and now displeased with the result of the inquest.
The novel is of a high technical scale. The characters are well defined. It
also reflects a brilliant descriptive gift. It provides a profound critical study
of literary trends influencing British fiction writing. Romantic spirit
dominates the novel but with special significance and symbolism. A critical
view of romanticism, mirrored in most aspects of the novel, is counteracted
by du Maurier’s own favourable perception of romance. Furthermore, the
themes treated by the novel are diagnostic as well as prognostic of the
conditions and problems of Britain at the time of the story just as they are
constant and ever-demanding issues of universal concern.
When published in 1938, the novel was met by wide success; it was best
seller and made successful film. Richardson (1969) wrote: “Then in 1938
came what is probably her most famous novel, Rebecca. This romantic novel
. . . has all the ingredients of a best seller” (p. 179). Thus, du Maurier was
established as one of the popular authors.
Other than romantic, best seller and popular, critics and literary theorists
had nothing more to say in favour of the novel. This depreciation is unfair.
Justice must take its course; a re-perusal is proposed by this study in order to
change the verdict and vindicate the novel status.
3