Summary:
Imagine writing a letter to the character Rebecca from the book Tebecca About the House, explaining. explain what you have done to Manderly and why, knowing of the character of Mrs. Danvers and of the strange relationship between her and Rebecca.
Pauline Ferguson
Mrs. M. Hanson
Summer Reading Project
Question #3:
Pretend you are Mrs. Danvers. Write a letter to Max and/or his second wife and explain what you have done to Manderly and why. Remember what we know of the character of Mrs. Danvers and of the strange relationship between her and Rebecca.
Dear Mrs. de Winter,
Manderly belongs to my lady. You will never be Mrs. de Winter. My lady was full of spirit, full of tricks and supremely, clever. She was adored by all, everyone who knew her was mad about her, to the point of jealousy. She captured the attention of many men. They simply could not resist her they were like prey in the web of a spider. Can't you see? She is still mistress here even if she's dead. Beat and swallowed-up by the swells of sea. She is the real Mrs. de Winter, not you. We were all fine here in Manderly until you appeared. I suffered all these months watching you sit in her place, walking her footsteps, and touching the things that were hers. You should have never come here. You are simply young and ignorant. You're young enough to be his daughter. Maxim never has and never will love you. I cared for Rebecca as a child and I watched her grow.
I want you to look carefully about the house; everything is exactly the same as if she never left. I keep her desk and little mementos precisely, the way they were when Rebecca was alive. No one knows my suffering, no one even cares. You destroyed my mistress; your presence here disturbs her. Why don't you leave Manderly so we all can continue to live uninterrupted? You must know there can never be another Mrs. de Winter. So for the sake of your happiness "go." It's my mistress who resides over Manderly. Mr. Maxim suffers terribly over her death. After she died, up and down, up and down, he paced the floor of the library. I watched him too, through the key hole. Back and forth like an animal in a cage, he frightfully marched, with the door locked and in secret. Can't you see he's a man missing his buried wife? Why he isn't finished mourning the death of is wife, it's not even ten months since she passed. You're a silly, foolish young girl who doesn't know grief. Manderly will always remind Maxim of his dear masterful Rebecca. What a winner, a pillar of strength. Her presence is in every room, on every piece of furniture and is stuck in the very fiber of Manderly's existence. His jealousy persists, how could you ever be happy? I'll answer that, you shall never be happy, either of you.
My loyalty to my lady leaves me no options. Manderly will never belong to you or Maxim. Manderly will never know another mistress.
Mrs. de Winter's Servant
This is the complete article, containing 480 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page).
