Rebecca: Key Quotations (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE English Literature): Revision Note
Exam code: 0475 & 0992
Key Quotations
Remember the assessment objectives explicitly state that you should be able to “use textual references, including quotations”. This means summarising, paraphrasing, referencing single words and referencing plot events are all as valid as using quotations in demonstrating that you understand the text. It is important that you remember that you can evidence your knowledge of the text in these two equally valid ways: both through references to it and direct quotations from it.
Overall, you should aim to secure a strong knowledge of the text, rather than memorising quotations, as this will enable you to respond to the question. It is the quality of your knowledge of the text that will enable you to select references effectively.
If you are going to revise quotations, the best way is to group them by character, or theme. Below you will find definitions and analysis of the best quotations, arranged by the following themes:
Identity
Through this theme, du Maurier explores self-perception, societal expectations and the influence of the past on one’s sense of identity. Societal expectations, particularly those within the aristocratic ideals depicted in the novel, mean that characters are subjected to rigid norms that present a challenge to their identity and autonomy.
“I realise, every day, that things I lack, confidence, grace, beauty, intelligence, wit – Oh, all the qualities that mean most in a woman – she possessed” – Narrator, Chapter 11
Meaning and context
In this quote, the narrator goes back to Manderley and finds Frank there
She speaks to him and explains how she compares everything about herself to Rebecca and reflects on her own perceived inadequacies
Analysis
This quote reflects the narrator’s deep sense of inadequacy and insecurity as she compares herself to Rebecca
The narrator’s acknowledgement of lacking qualities such as confidence, grace, beauty, intelligence and wit reveals her feelings of inferiority:
The narrator perceives Rebecca as the embodiment of feminine perfection
This idealisation becomes a significant narrative element and influences the narrator’s behaviour
The qualities listed are also traditionally associated with societal expectations for women, particularly those within the aristocracy during this era:
The narrator’s struggle reflects the pressure to conform to these expectations as she assumes the role of the lady of Manderley
The societal norms dictate her sense of self-worth and contribute to the challenges she faces in asserting her identity:
The societal memory of Rebecca influences not only how others view the narrator but also how she views herself
“She’s the real Mrs de Winter, not you. Why don’t you leave Manderley to her?” – Mrs Danvers, Chapter 18
Meaning and context
This quote occurs the morning after the Manderley ball when the narrator goes to confront Mrs Danvers
Analysis
Mrs Danvers's declaration illustrates the symbolic weight of Rebecca's spirit and memory at Manderley:
Even in death, Rebecca continues to exert a powerful influence over the estate
This symbolism contributes to the Gothic and mysterious tone of the novel
In this quote, Mrs Danvers demonstrates her deep devotion to Rebecca and this loyalty transcends the boundaries of death
By insisting that Rebecca is the true mistress of Manderley, she conveys her refusal to accept the second Mrs de Winter in this role
Power and control
Rebecca explores how characters maintain power over others through manipulation, intimidation and other psychological tools. The narrator’s weakness exposes her to those who are more powerful than her and characters like Mrs Danvers use her weakness to frighten, intimidate and manipulate her.
“I knew then that I was no longer afraid of Rebecca…She could not hurt me…Rebecca’s power had dissolved into the air, like the mist had done. She would never haunt me again” – Narrator, Chapter 21
Meaning and context
This quote occurs when the full truth about Rebecca’s death and the events leading up to it have been fully revealed
In this chapter, the narrator reflects on the aftermath of this revelation
Analysis
This quote demonstrates the change in perspective of the narrator:
The phrase “she could not hurt me” indicates a change in the power dynamics between the narrator and Rebecca
The narrator, initially threatened by Rebecca, realises she no longer wields any power over her
The imagery of Rebecca’s power dissolving “into the air, like mist” suggests an irreversible fading of power
The phrase “she would never haunt me again” underscores the narrator’s liberation from Rebecca’s grip and her feelings of empowerment:
This quote conveys the narrator’s transformation as a character
“I can’t forget what it has done to you… It’s gone forever, that funny, young, lost look that I loved. It won’t come back again. I killed that too when I told you about Rebecca…You are so much older…” – Maxim, Chapter 21
Meaning and context
In this chapter, Maxim reveals the truth about the circumstances of Rebecca’s death
He expresses his regret about telling the narrator the truth
Analysis
In this quote, Maxim conveys a deep sense of regret and sorrow
The phrase “it’s gone forever, that funny, young, lost look that I loved” suggests that the narrator’s innocence and youthfulness has been irrevocably altered:
The revelation has robbed the narrator of her naivety, which Maxim had found endearing
Further, the phrase “you are so much older now” implies a loss of innocence:
While Maxim laments the loss of his wife’s innocence, he also recognises the growth that accompanies it
This aligns to the Gothic as the corruption and loss of one's innocence is a common element of this genre
“She’s still mistress here, even if she is dead” – Mrs Danvers, Chapter 18
Meaning and context
In this chapter, the narrator is exploring the west wing (Rebecca’s domain) and encounters Mrs Danvers
Analysis
In this quote, Mrs Danvers’s devotion and loyalty to Rebecca is portrayed:
The use of the present tense illustrates the pervasive influence of Rebecca’s memory
Despite her death, Mrs Danvers considers her to be the true mistress of Manderley
It serves to contrast Rebecca with the second Mrs de Winter
It illustrates the power and dominance that Mrs Danvers has over the narrator
It also links to how the past continues to shape the present
“The letter R was the last to go, it twisted in the flame, it curled outwards for a moment, becoming larger than ever. Then it crumpled too; the flame destroyed it” – Narrator, Chapter 6
Meaning and context
In this chapter, the narrator looks at the poetry book Maxim had given to her, while Maxim speaks with Mrs Van Hopper
The narrator tears out the inscription from Rebecca and throws it into the fire
Analysis
The motif of fire recurs twice in the novel: in this chapter and again when Manderely is ablaze at the end of the novel:
Fire symbolises a purification and this action foreshadows the end of the novel when Manderley is on fire
The letter R is the last to burn and alludes to the enduring memory of Rebecca:
Despite the narrator tearing apart the inscribed page from the book, the spirit of Rebecca persists
Deception and secrets
The tension between appearance and reality contributes to the mysterious tone of the novel. The text explores the consequences of hidden truths and the impact of deception and secrets on characters and their relationships.
“I never go near the bloody place, or that God-damned cottage. And if you had my memories you would not want to go there either, or talk about it, or even think about it” Maxim, Chapter 10
Meaning and context
This quote occurs after the narrator has gone against Maxim’s wishes and visited the cottage
Analysis
In this quote, Maxim uses strong language such as “bloody place” and “God-damned cottage” to indicate his aversion to Manderley and the cottage
It reveals his painful memories and trauma associated with these places and underscores how he is haunted by them
Maxim's haunted past also contributes to the strained dynamics between him and the second Mrs de Winter
“You despise me, don’t you? … You can’t understand my shame, and loathing and disgust?” – Maxim, Chapter 20
Meaning and context
In this chapter, the narrator is standing with Maxim in the library, having just learned that he killed Rebecca
Maxim reveals the full truth about his marriage to Rebecca
Analysis
While Maxim is generally portrayed as stoic and reserved, this quote reveals a more vulnerable side to his character
The phrase “you can’t understand my shame” indicates the disconnect between Maxim and the narrator
As a character, Maxim is haunted by his past and his tumultuous marriage to Rebecca
Class Divisions
Rebecca explores the power imbalances associated with class distinctions. The narrator’s lower class and interactions between the aristocratic de Winter family and the estate's staff convey the control mechanisms present in hierarchical social structures.
“I could see she despised me, marking with all the snobbery of her class that I was no great lady, that I was humble, shy, and diffident” – Narrator, Chapter 7
Meaning and context
In this chapter, the narrator has just arrived at Manderley and has been shown to her new bedroom by Mrs Danvers
Mrs Danvers explains that she has been at Manderley since the first Mrs de Winter married
Analysis
This quote highlights the theme of class distinctions:
Here, the narrator is acutely aware of the snobbery and disdain directed towards her by Mrs Danvers
The word “despise” conveys the strong sense of contempt that Mrs Danvers holds towards the narrator
Mrs Danvers looks down upon the narrator for her perceived lack of social standing
The words “no great lady”, “humble”, “shy” and “diffident” reveal the narrator’s own self-perception:
It also highlights the criteria by which individuals are judged within the social hierarchy of the novel
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