Sunday, May 18, 2014

"The sense of freedom had departed, and the childish desire to run across the lawns in sand-shoes."

The chapter starts with Mrs. de Winter getting word that Maxim will be returning that evening at seven. He doesn't want to talk to her, and has just left a message with Robert. This seems to hurt her. Beatrice calls her and asks if she wants to come along with her to go and meet the grandmother. Mrs de Winter is delighted that she has asked her and agrees. Until the time she comes to pick her up, Mrs. de Winter sits outside thinking about what had happened the day before with Mrs. Danvers. She feels as though she is in a childhood game called "Grandmother's Steps" with her.

Beatrice arrives and the two depart. She comments on her color, saying she doesn't look well. She is curious as to if Mrs. de Winter is expecting, and probes her with questions, ensuring she isn't doing anything to prevent having a child. I hope she has a child! That will just put a twist on everything! Mrs. de Winter tells Beatrice about Favell. Beatrice reveals that it was Rebecca's cousin. She also says that she didn't hang around much when Rebecca was there because, "her manner was abrupt" (182). Plot twist! Maybe Beatrice really didn't like Rebecca and sincerely actually likes the new Mrs. de Winter.  

They meet Maxim's grandmother and talk to her for a long while. They talk about Beatrice's wedding gift, Mrs. de Winter's talent in art and so forth. Grandmother is quite a piece of work. She is very demanding and wants thing done her way, on her time. I love people like her.  All of a sudden, Gran goes into a complete state of confusing and starts demanding answers: "'Why did Maxim not being Rebecca? I'm so found of Rebecca. Where is dear Rebecca?'" (188). The nurse urged the women to leave at once. They did so and began their drive back to the estate in silence. 

Beatrice apologised over and over. When they arrived at the gate, she asked if Mrs. de Winter could walk the drive, as she wanted to leave to go meet Giles. Mrs. de Winter couldn't help but to think about Gran as a young girl her whole way walking home. She arrive home to see Maxim had arrived. She overheard a conversation on the phone with Mrs. Danvers, in which Maxim was not happy about her have Favell at the estate the day previous. She entered and caught up with Max. He did not mention anything about Favell or Mrs. Danvers to her.

Vocabulary:
Charades (181)- an absurd pretense intended to create a pleasant or respectable appearance.

Literary Devices & Important Quotations

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