Chapter five begins with the narrator talking about her feelings of love. She then goes to check in on the ill Mrs. Van Hopper, who questions her about her whereabouts that morning. The narrator lies and says that she has been practicing her tennis with the professional, as Mrs. Van Hopper wishes she does. Mrs. Van Hopper says that due to her illness, the narrator isn't keeping busy, and complains that when Mrs. Van Hopper asks her to get her something at the market, or complete a similar task, it takes her an ungodly amount of time or she just doesn't do it.
After their meeting ends, Mr. de Winter is waiting for her outside the hotel. The narrator captures the moment and wishes that it could last forever. In fact, she says to Mr. de Winter that she wishes that there was an invention, "that bottled up a memory, like a scent" (37). Mr. de Winter asks her what memory she would capture, in which she replies that it would be the moment they were sharing then and there. [Aw, true love!]
The narrator finally proposes the question as to why Mr. de Winter has interest in her, asking why he has chosen her as a charity case. Mr. de Winter replies simply that it is because she was not dressed in black satin, she doesn't wear pearls, and she isn't thiry-six. This part to me is confusing to me. Is Mr. de Winter just throwing out these traits because he is looking for a more simplistic wife; one who is not in the same sociological class as he, like the narrator? Or, are these traits describing his ex-wife? The narrator also probes more into the life of Mr. de Winter, saying that she has opened herself up to him, but she he isn't doing the same for her. Mr. de Winter asks her what she knows about him, and the most pressing thing she says is, "Why, that you lived at Manderley and - and that you had lost your wife" (39).
There is a good amount of silence, until Mr. de Winter starts to speak to the narrator again. During this time, the narrator feels exceptionally guilty for bringing up his wife and feels like she just ended their entire relationship. Mr. de Winter clears up a few points in a huge speech he gives to the narrator. A huge foreshadowing moment, "Something happened a year ago that altered my whole life, and I want to forget them" (40). What possibly could have happened? It HAS to do with Mrs. de Winter! ..right? Yes, Rebecca de Winter went out to sea on a night that the waves were too rough and her boat capsized. She drowned swimming to shore. Her body was found months later. No, actually, he killed her. He then says that he was indeed at the cliff once before, with his wife. He's exceptionally offended that the narrator just thinks that he is interested in her as a charity case, and gives her the choice to believe what he's telling her, or get out of the car!
The ride back to the hotel is long and awkward, as the tension is so high it can be felt. However, like a typical man, he gets over the fight and pulls her back to his side. He even goes as far as telling her that she can call him Maxim now, as that's what his family calls him. Once she arrives back at the hotel, she goes to visit Mrs. Van Hopper who questions if Max de Winter is still in the building, which makes the narrator believe that she knows about their relationship.
>>We're definitely making significant progress in terms of the relationship between Maxim and the narrator (who really needs a name!). The connections between the characters are being made; however, I question Mrs. Van Hoppers role in the whole ordeal. I wonder if she will soon be out of the picture? She moves to New York to be with family in need. The narrator marries Maxim de Winter and moves to Manderely with him. Perhaps the narrator goes to live in Manderely and the connection between Mrs. Van Hopper is lost there! Nailed it! I hope that it's lost soon - the narrator deserves a reprieve from the enslavement of such a witch!
After their meeting ends, Mr. de Winter is waiting for her outside the hotel. The narrator captures the moment and wishes that it could last forever. In fact, she says to Mr. de Winter that she wishes that there was an invention, "that bottled up a memory, like a scent" (37). Mr. de Winter asks her what memory she would capture, in which she replies that it would be the moment they were sharing then and there. [Aw, true love!]
The narrator finally proposes the question as to why Mr. de Winter has interest in her, asking why he has chosen her as a charity case. Mr. de Winter replies simply that it is because she was not dressed in black satin, she doesn't wear pearls, and she isn't thiry-six. This part to me is confusing to me. Is Mr. de Winter just throwing out these traits because he is looking for a more simplistic wife; one who is not in the same sociological class as he, like the narrator? Or, are these traits describing his ex-wife? The narrator also probes more into the life of Mr. de Winter, saying that she has opened herself up to him, but she he isn't doing the same for her. Mr. de Winter asks her what she knows about him, and the most pressing thing she says is, "Why, that you lived at Manderley and - and that you had lost your wife" (39).
There is a good amount of silence, until Mr. de Winter starts to speak to the narrator again. During this time, the narrator feels exceptionally guilty for bringing up his wife and feels like she just ended their entire relationship. Mr. de Winter clears up a few points in a huge speech he gives to the narrator. A huge foreshadowing moment, "Something happened a year ago that altered my whole life, and I want to forget them" (40). What possibly could have happened? It HAS to do with Mrs. de Winter! ..right? Yes, Rebecca de Winter went out to sea on a night that the waves were too rough and her boat capsized. She drowned swimming to shore. Her body was found months later. No, actually, he killed her. He then says that he was indeed at the cliff once before, with his wife. He's exceptionally offended that the narrator just thinks that he is interested in her as a charity case, and gives her the choice to believe what he's telling her, or get out of the car!
The ride back to the hotel is long and awkward, as the tension is so high it can be felt. However, like a typical man, he gets over the fight and pulls her back to his side. He even goes as far as telling her that she can call him Maxim now, as that's what his family calls him. Once she arrives back at the hotel, she goes to visit Mrs. Van Hopper who questions if Max de Winter is still in the building, which makes the narrator believe that she knows about their relationship.
>>We're definitely making significant progress in terms of the relationship between Maxim and the narrator (who really needs a name!). The connections between the characters are being made; however, I question Mrs. Van Hoppers role in the whole ordeal. I wonder if she will soon be out of the picture? She moves to New York to be with family in need. The narrator marries Maxim de Winter and moves to Manderely with him. Perhaps the narrator goes to live in Manderely and the connection between Mrs. Van Hopper is lost there! Nailed it! I hope that it's lost soon - the narrator deserves a reprieve from the enslavement of such a witch!
Vocabulary:
infinitesimal- extremely small
Literary Devices & Important Quotations
Characterization
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