Firstly, what are your thoughts on the titular character? Some people glorify her as a feminist icon (lived life on her own terms, was sexually free, etc) but I can't perceive her like that. She whipped a horse until it bled. I also might be reading too deeply into Maxim saying that she told him things on the cliff in Monte Carlo that he can never repeat again (and I don't think he was talking about her adultery, because he repeatedly acknowledges that). I don't take a lot of the things Maxim said about Rebecca for granted, but I do believe she was a terrible person. I also have a problem in general with people trying to put characters in contemporary boxes ("Rebecca was a girlboss"), I feel like it dilutes/strips them of any and all nuance.
Imo Maxim was the victim in his first marriage because Rebecca recognized and manipulated his attachment to/love for Manderley and went back on their agreement. I don't condone his murdering her but he was pushed to it because she manipulated him and orchestrated it so that she'd continue to haunt him even after she was gone. She was evil and manipulative for sure, everyone who didn't love her, hated her, there was no in between.
What do you think of the relationship between Mrs de Winter #2 and Maxim? Do you think it's predatory? I don't think it is, although there was definitely a power imbalance and he was a neglectful husband. I don't think he loved her in the beginning (or even for much of the middle), but he was genuinely fond of her because she was the complete opposite of Rebecca (and yeah, some of those qualities were because she was young and very naive.) I think he starts to respect her/lean on her more after his confession, and after Manderley burns down they find companionship and peace with each other, but they are far from the perfect match. I lowkey think she'd be better with Frank, he was much more attentive and thoughtful and they were compatible but she pedestalises Maxim too much for that to ever happen lol
Manderley burning down was good for both of them (especially Maxim) and is the reason they end up as a somewhat happy couple. Both of them have a toxic(?) relationship with the house and neither of them could have moved on from Rebecca's shadow if they continued living there.
by 2-0-0-4