Mrs. de Winter is empowered by thought that Maxim never loved Rebecca. She feels as though she is freed from the weight on her shoulders of trying to be like Rebecca. She knows now that she can be who she wants to be and not have to worry about Maxim not loving her because she isn't a reproduction of what Rebecca once was: "My heart, for all its anxiety and doubt was light and free" (289). It's the little things that she can do with ease now, such as sit at her desk in the morning room, touch her pen, go to her room in the West Wing, and so forth; all without having that haunting feeling of Rebecca's spirit weighing down on her: "I was free now to be with Maim, to touch him, and hold him, and love him" (290).
The phone keeps ringing off the hook at the Manderley estate. First, Colonel Julyan has called to ask Maxim questions about the body, seeking answers as to who might have been on that boat, and if Mr. de Winter may have made an error in identifying the body. Then, as Mr. de Winter had feared, "it's begun" (291). A reporter from the Country Chronicles called to talk to Maxim about the dead body. As the de Winter family had feared, the press was getting word of what had happened.
--- time passes ---
The next morning, Maxim gets up extremely early and heads down to the beach for the boat to be exhumed from the water. Mrs. de Winters gets up as usual and starts her morning routine; however, she has a change in attitude. She tells Mrs. Danvers what she wants, as opposed to what Mrs. Danvers offers. When Mrs. Danvers detests, Mrs. de Winter says that she is now the new Mrs. de Winter and Rebecca is no longer alive! (You go, girl!) Mrs. Danvers is emotionally distraught and asks Mrs. de Winter about the body, the boat, and everything regarding the situation. Mrs. de Winter acts as if she has no idea what she's talking about and continues about her day.
Frank, Colonel Julyan, and Maxim return for lunch at around one. They talk at the table about fruits, and jams, and so forth. Then, finally, they get on the subject at the mystery at hand. It seems as though Colonel Julyan has no suspicions towards Mr. de Winter; however, Frank certainly does. Colonel Julyan informs Mr. de Winter that he is just going to have to deal with the media overturn of the story: "...what bothres me is the wretched publicity of the affair. So sad and unpleasant for you and your wife" (301). After lunch, they chat in the rose garden before Frank and Colonel Julyan depart.
Mr. and Mrs. de Winter chat in the rose garden about the day, in which Maxim says: "'I don't regret anything else. If it had to come all over again I should not do anything different'" (304). It seems as though Maxim has no regret towards what he did to Rebecca. Rebecca's murder reveals two crucial personality explications. Either Rebecca must have been a cold-hearted, brutal human being, or Maxim is just the same. I can't believe how Mrs. de Winter is handling this whole situation. She is acting as if nothing is wrong, rather, just the opposite, she is relieved! How would any down-to-earth human being be able to be relieved after they just found out that their spouse is a cold-blooded killer!!
Vocabulary:
blaspheme- speak about God or other sacred things.
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