It's a Sunday afternoon and Mrs. de Winter, her husband, and Frank are out in the lawn when all of a sudden their afternoon is overtaken by visitors. The visitors, Lady Crowan being one of them, sat for tea time with the de Winters and Frank. Lady Crowan pressed Maxim about having another fancy ball at the Manderely estate. Eventually, they all agreed with Lady Crowan that a ball at the Manderely estate to honor the newly wedded bride, Mrs. de Winter was a necessary gesture. Input: I'm not sure why the ball is such a big deal. It comes coming up in the book. There must be a big significance to it. Maybe something happens at the ball?
Party preparations began full force, and the question of what Mrs. de Winter came into play. Lady Crowan suggested that she would wear a Dresden shepherdess; however, she thinks that this suggestion is quite hysterical. She decides that she is going to blow Maxim and Frank out of the water with what she wears, but she will not show them her outfit until the day of. She decides that the only person she is going to tell is Clarice, who is absolutely thrilled at such a descion. Mrs. Danvers comes into Mrs. de Winter's bathroom to tell her that she found drawings in her garbage and was asking her for approval to dispose of them. They reconnect, somewhat, which makes Mrs. de Winter feel a little uneasy. She starts to think about Favell again. She can't figure out why Maxim doesn't like him and can only rationalize the feelings by thinking, "...he must be the skeleton in the family cupboard..." (203).
At dinner, Mrs. de Winter is still imaging that she is in Rebecca's body and is trying to interpret the relationship she had with Favell. Unknowingly, she acts out a conversation that might have occurred between Maxim and her when Favell called. Maxim breaks Mrs. de Winter from this trans and asks her what she was thinking about. They start interrogating each other, until finally Mr. de Winter says, ""'There is a certain type of knowledge I prefer you not to have. It's better kept under lock and key.'" (205). Such a powerful foreshadowing quote! What knowledge is Mr. de Winter referring to? The secret truth about how Rebecca died? Yes. Did she not drown? Did she have an affair? Yeah, with her cousin. Gag. How does Favell fit in the picture? He's her cousin. Who also had an affair with her. Gag. Gag. Gag.
The remainder of the chapter is dedicated to the preparation for the party. Beatrice and Giles arrive and are discussion their outfits: Giles is coming as an Arabian sheik. Mrs. de Winter is so excited about her dress. She finally feels like she can impress the people who mean the most to her. She finally feels comfortable and happy in her body. Mrs. de Winter prepares herself with Clarice and she makes a grand entrance to Maxim, Beatrice, and the others; however, she doesn't get the expression she's looking for. Maxim is absolutely furious, and Beatrice is covering her mouth. Mrs. Danvers has set her up. Maxim is so mad that he screams at her and sends her to change. She passes Mrs. Danvers and says, "I shall never forget the expression on her face, loathsome, triumphant. The face of an exulting devil. She stood there, smiling at me" (218).
Who is Caroline de Winter? Max's great-great grandmother. Obviously she affected the de Winter children enough for them to be both overcome with such emotions. It's such a shame that Mrs. de Winter keeps getting set up by Mrs. Danvers. She truly is a devil! She needs to let go of Rebecca, she's dead for God's sake!
Vocabulary:
unobtrusively (195)- in an unobtrusive manor
Literary Devices & Important Quotations
No comments:
Post a Comment