Upon arriving at Manderley, the unnamed heroine of Rebecca undergoes a psychological journey to fulfill her fundamental needs, free herself from the clutches of the ghost of Rebecca, and finally seek self-realization. Against a backdrop of Gothic mystery, intrigue, and beauty, the heroine comes of age from the naïve, lovesick companion of Mrs. Van Hopper to a mature woman with great psychological insight.
Proposed by American psychologist Abraham Maslow, Maslow's hierarchy of needs details the incrementing desires shared by all human beings progressing from basic to complex. At the bottom of the pyramid are physiological means, referring to basic necessities of life such as food, water, and shelter. For a low-middle-class woman like the heroine, one who has received no inheritance from her now mostly deceased family and now assumes the position as the paid traveling companion of Mrs. Van Hopper, lacks substantial safety and security, the second need in Maslow's pyramid. Thus, she is easily charmed and swayed by Maxim de Winter into marriage; seeking the luxury and comfort of Manderley, she readily agrees to his offer without much consideration. Due to her social situation, her decision to marry Maxim, an older man with a deceased first wife, stems from her desire for comfort and luxury. Furthermore, as a young, immature woman, she craves romance and attention from a mysterious, handsome man like Maxim and constantly worries whether she is the subject of his affection. Due to her safety necessities, Maxim essentially buys her into marriage with him. The heroine's pursuit of her basic needs drives the plot of Rebecca and brings her entanglement into a web of complications.
Upon arriving at the Manderley estate, the heroine faces the overwhelming influence of the late Rebecca and attempts to cement her own place within the household. In the environment of the Manderley estate, she struggles to find confirmations of esteem, the next level of Maslow's hierarchy of needs referring to feelings of respect, reconviction, and freedom. Instead, she is physically and mentally confined by societal expectations and the lingering presence of Rebecca. Upon her initial arrival, her middle-class origins isolated her from the rest of the residents of the Manderley estate, even servants accustomed to the higher-class gentry. Consequently, the heroine's lack of esteem would result in situations where she was the one apologizing to servants for breaking a vase. Furthermore, she could not escape the influence of Rebecca wherever she went; at every corner, everyone was praising Rebecca for her beauty, wit, and adeptness at managing the house, starking contrasting her own incompetence. The comparisons between her and Rebecca and the constant silent judgment she received from all the servants left the heroine unable to fulfill her needs of esteem. Consequently, her deprivation of esteem resulted in her falling prey to the manipulation of Mrs. Danvers. Convinced to wear the same white that Rebecca had worn to a party during her lifetime, the heroine physically cannot escape comparisons with the former Mrs. De Winter. In the Manderley estate, she lacks both self-expression and the freedom to determine her own life. From the heroine's marriage to her feelings of confinement, her journey in Manderley directly results from everything Rebecca has done. The heroine struggles to derive any esteem in her new life through her differing social caste and the influence of her foil, Rebecca, over everyone else.
However, when all the secrets of Manderley begin to be revealed, leaving nothing but the truth, the heroine becomes empowered, fulfilling many of her essential needs. Her lack of esteem stemmed from the influence of Rebecca, or instead all of her secrets; without knowing anything about the de Winter's family history and Rebecca's true nature, the heroine was easily manipulated and harmed by others' lies. The primary point of comparison between her and Rebecca was their contrasting appearances and demeanors; Rebecca was said to be beautiful, intelligent, social, and a great hostess, compared to the heroine's incompetence. However, such was not the whole truth, as Rebecca carried on many affairs that her husband was powerless to stop due to her consolidation of power in the household among all the servants. Furthermore, Maxim states that his first wife was a vile and wicked woman, differing the innocence and goodwill of the heroine. Upon realizing this, the heroine no longer worries about Maxim loving his dead wife more than he loves her, as Maxim instead loathes and fears Rebecca, culminating in his murder of her. Discovering this otherwise ghastly truth, the heroine effectively asserts her power over the household. Maxim's confession secures her need for love and belonging from her husband, and the discovery of Rebecca's vile nature cements the esteem of the heroine, who no longer worries about the judgment of the servants. As such, she overcomes the manipulative power of Mrs. Danvers, finding instead a pathetic and even sympathetic woman painfully devoted to a now-dead Rebecca who probably never cared for her servant. The heroine's triumph over Rebecca mirrors her coming-of-age from a once immature girl intimidated by Rebecca's veneer of perfection to a now more independent woman capable of governing Manderley. Through her accomplishments, she gains love from her husband, esteem from those around her, and the self-actualization within herself that she is not powerless or inferior before Rebecca.
From a middle-class traveling companion, the heroine arrives at Manderley, conquering obstacles to her deepest desires for security, love, and esteem. In her journey up Maslow's hierarchy of needs, she discovers truths about her new estate and the intimidating ghost of the seemingly perfect Rebecca, ultimately coming of age as a result. Finally, with Manderley burning down, the now mature heroine embarks on a new journey with Maxim, a journey without any fear or apprehension.
Comments