Rebecca:A Genuine Romantic and Typical British Contemporary Novel Overlooked by Critics
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Sudan University of Science & Technology College of Graduate Studies College of Languages Rebecca: A Genuine Romantic and Typical British Contemporary Novel Overlooked by Critics رﺑﻴﻜﺎ: رواﻳﺔ ذات ﻃﺎﺑﻊ روﻣﺎﻧﺴﻲ أﺻﻴﻞ وﻣﺜﺎل ﻟﻠﺮواﻳﺔ اﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ اﻟﻤﻌﺎﺻﺮة ﺗﻐﺎﻓـﻞ ﻋﻨﻬﺎ اﻟﻨﻘـﺎد A Thesis Submitted in Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Ph.D. in English Literature Submitted By Tahra Abdelgadir Mohamed Ahmed Supervised by Dr. Mahmoud Ali Ahmed 2017 Dedication To my parents and children To Daphne du Maurier ii Acknowledgements All praise is due to Allah, the Almighty, for His guidance and assistance. I am grateful to my supervisor Dr. Mahmoud Ali Ahmed whose encouragement and support I do much appreciate. Sudan University of Science & Technology/College of Graduate Studies deserves special thanks for allowing me the opportunity to bring those long-borne ideas to light. I am indebted to my daughter Eiman and my son Mohammad for their considerable help in collecting the material of the study and for the strain they had to endure with me until I accomplished this hard task. iii Abstract The prejudiced attitude of the English novelist Daphne du Maurier’s contemporaries towards her novel Rebecca, 1938 and their inattentive reading of the novel established the motive for this research. Critics of the time thought it had no sufficient merit for systematic study and placed it among lowbrow popular literature. It was shunned by chief critical studies, and du Maurier was condemned as an idle dreamer. Their claim rested on shaky assumption that it was a romantic novel. The aim of the researcher is to conduct a critical analysis of the novel to refute their allegations and confirm it as a worthy piece of literary creation by clarifying the depth and mysteries it contains. To achieve that aim, the pluralistic or eclectic approach, which maintains that effective criticism requires the use of all methods, is employed. The researcher has questioned the conventional methods used in the assessment of literary works underlining their inadequacy to offer a concrete conceptual definition for this purpose. Accordingly, the two claims of the research title have been addressed. The discussion of the traditional definitions of romance has proved the non- romanticism of the novel in that sense. It is still confirmed as a romantic story as seen from its author’s perspective and her perception of romance abstracted from her article on romantic love, hence the ‘genuine romantic’. The second segment, ‘typical British contemporary novel’, is predicated on the researcher’s arguement against the aforementioned accusation that Rebecca is a stale piece of fiction. This has been disproved through testing the novel against the British literature in the 1930s. The study is hoped to be a beneficial contribution in the literary and academic provinces and to profit other researchers to carry out further related studies. iv The Abstract in Arabic Language ﻣﺳﺗﺧﻠص اﻟﺑﺣث اﻟداﻓﻊ ﻟﮭذا اﻟﺑﺣث ھو اﻟﻣوﻗف اﻟﻣﺗﺣﺎﻣل ﻟﻣﻌﺎﺻري اﻟرواﺋﯾﺔ اﻻﻧﺟﻠﯾزﯾﺔ داﻓﻧﻲ دﯾو ﻣورﯾر ﺗﺟﺎه رواﯾﺗﮭﺎ رﺑﯾﻛﺎ (١٩٣٨) وﻗراءﺗﮭم اﻟﺳطﺣﯾﺔ ﻟﮭذه اﻟرواﯾﺔ. اﻋﺗﻘد اﻟﻧﻘﺎد ﻓﻲ ذﻟك اﻟوﻗت أن اﻟرواﯾﺔ ﺗﺧﻠو ﻣن اﻟﻘﯾﻣﺔ اﻟﻛﺎﻓﯾﺔ ﻟﻛﻲ ﺗﺣظﻰ ﺑدراﺳﺔ ﺟﺎدة وﺻﻧﻔوھﺎ ﺿﻣن اﻷدب اﻟﺷﻌﺑﻲ اﻟﺿﺋﯾل ﻛﻣﺎ ﻋزﻓت اﻟدراﺳﺎت اﻷﺳﺎﺳﯾﺔ اﻟﻧﻘدﯾﺔ ﻋﻧﮭﺎ و أدﯾﻧت داﻓﻧﻲ دﯾو ﻣورﯾر ﺑﺄﻧﮭﺎ ﻣﺟرد ﺣﺎﻟﻣﺔ. ﺗﺄﺳس ھذا اﻟزﻋم ﻋﻠﻰ اﻓﺗراض ﻣﻐﻠوط ﺑﺄن رﺑﯾﻛﺎ رواﯾﺔ روﻣﺎﻧﺳﯾﺔ. ھدﻓﻲ ﻣن ھذا اﻟﺑﺣث إﺟراء ﺗﺣﻠﯾل ﻧﻘدي ﻟﻠرواﯾﺔ ﻟدﺣض ھذا اﻻدﻋﺎء وإﺛﺑﺎت ﻗﯾﻣﺗﮭﺎ اﻷدﺑﯾﺔ ﺑﻛﺷف اﻟﻌﻣق واﻻﺳرار اﻟﻣوﺟودة ﺑﮭﺎ. اﻟﻣﻧﮭﺞ اﻟﻣﺳﺗﺧدم ﻟﺗﺣﻘﯾق ذﻟك اﻟﮭدف ھو اﻟﻣﻧﮭﺞ اﻟﺗﻌددي اﻟذي ﯾﻘﺗﺑس ﻣن ﻣﻧﺎھﺞ ﺷﺗﻰ. ﻧﺎﻗش اﻟﺑﺎﺣث اﻟﻣﻧﺎھﺞ اﻟﺗﻘﻠﯾدﯾﺔ ﻟﺗﻘﯾﯾم اﻷﻋﻣﺎل اﻷدﺑﯾﺔ ﻣﺑﯾﻧﺎ ً ﻋﺟزھﺎ ﻋن ﺗﻘدﯾم ﻣﻔﮭوم ذو ﺗﻌرﯾف ﻣﺣدد ﯾﻔﻲ ﺑﮭذا اﻟﻐرض. ًﺑﻧﺎء ﻋﻠﯾﮫ ﺗم ﺗﺣﻠﯾل اﻟرواﯾﺔ ﻹﺛﺑﺎت اﻟﻣﻔﮭوﻣﯾن اﻟﻠذﯾن ﯾﺗﺿﻣﻧﮭﻣﺎ اﻟﻌﻧوان. ﺑﻣﻧﺎﻗﺷﺔ اﻟﺗﻌرﯾﻔﺎت اﻟﺗﻘﻠﯾدﯾﺔ ﻟﻣﻔﮭوم اﻟروﻣﺎﻧﺳﯾﺔ واﻟروﻣﺎﻧﺗﯾﻛﯾﺔ ﺛﺑت ﻋدم اﻧطﺑﺎﻗﮭﺎ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟرواﯾﺔ. وﻣﻊ ذﻟك اﺛﺑت ﻛﺎﺗب اﻟﺑﺣث روﻣﺎﻧﺳﯾﺔ اﻟﻘﺻﺔ ﻣن ﻣﻧظورﻛﺎﺗﺑﺗﮭﺎ اﻟﻣﺳﺗﺧﻠص ﻣن ﻣﻘﺎل ﻟﮭﺎ ﺑﻌﻧوان اﻟﺣب اﻟروﻣﺎﻧﺳﻲ ﯾﺑﯾن ﻓﮭﻣﮭﺎ ﻟﻠروﻣﺎﻧﺳﯾﺔ وﻣن ھﻧﺎ ﻛﺎن وﺻف رﺑﯾﻛﺎ ﺑﺄﻧﮭﺎ رواﯾﺔ ذات طﺎﺑﻊ روﻣﺎﻧﺳﻲ أﺻﻠﻲ أو ﺣﻘﯾﻘﻲ. أﻣﺎ ﻣﺿﻣون اﻟﺟزء اﻟﺛﺎﻧﻲ ﻣن اﻟﻌﻧوان وھو أن رﺑﯾﻛﺎ ﻣﺛﺎل ﻟﻠرواﯾﺔ اﻟﺑرﯾطﺎﻧﯾﺔ اﻟﻣﻌﺎﺻرة ﻓﮭو ﻣﺑﻧﻲ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻗﻧﺎﻋﺔ اﻟﺑﺎﺣث ﺑﺑطﻼن اﻻﺗﮭﺎم اﻟﻣذﻛور ﺳﺎﺑﻘﺎً واﻟذي ﯾﻔﺗرض أﻧﮭﺎ ﻋﻣل ﻗﺻﺻﻲ ٍﺑﺎل ﻣﺑﺗذل. وﻗد ﻓﻧد ذﻟك اﻟزﻋم ﺑدراﺳﺔ اﻟرواﯾﺔ ًﺑﻧﺎء ﻋﻠﻰ ﻣﻘﺎﯾﯾس اﻷدب اﻟﺑرﯾطﺎﻧﻲ ﻓﻲ ﺛﻼﺛﯾﻧﯾﺎت اﻟﻘرن اﻟﻌﺷرﯾن. ﯾرﺟو اﻟﺑﺎﺣث أن ﺗﻣﺛل اﻟدراﺳﺔ إﺳﮭﺎﻣﺎً ﻣﻔﯾداً ﻓﻲ اﻟﻣﺟﺎﻟﯾن اﻷدﺑﻲ واﻻﻛﺎدﯾﻣﻲ و أن ﯾﺳﺗﻔﯾد ﻣﻧﮫ ﻏﯾره ﻣن اﻟﺑﺎﺣﺛﯾن ﻓﻲ أﺟراء اﻟﻣزﯾد ﻣن اﻟدراﺳﺎت ذات اﻟﺻﻠﺔ. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Title page i Dedication ii Acknowledgements iii Abstract iv The Abstract in Arabic Language v Table of contents vi Chapter One Introduction 1.1. Background 2 1.2. Definition of Terms 4 1.3. Statement of the Research Problem 4 1.4. Objectives of the Study 6 1.5. Significance of the Study 6 1.6. Research Questions and Hypotheses 7 Chapter Two Literature Review 2.1. British Fiction in the 1930s 10 2.2. Free Love 15 2.3. Modernity and Modernism 16 Chapter Three Research Methodology 3.1. Introduction 19 3.2. The Critical Approach 19 3.3. Symbolism 20 Chapter Four Theoretical Analysis and Discussion 4.1. Introduction 22 4.2. Rebecca is a Genuine Romantic Novel 23 4.2.1. Verification of the First Hypothesis 25 vi 4.2.2. Verification of the Second Hypothesis 28 4.2.3. Du Maurier’s Perception of Romance 35 4.2.3.1. Cynical View 36 4.2.3.2. As Inferred from Rebecca 44 4.2.4. Verification of the Third Hypothesis 47 4.2.4.1. The Romantic Portrayal in the Novel 47 4.2.4.1.1. Setting 48 4.2.4.1.2. Theme 53 4.2.4.1.3. Romantic Love 61 4.2.4.1.4. Characterization 66 4.2.4.1.5. Style 85 4.3. Rebecca is a Typical British Contemporary Novel 90 4.3.1. Verification of the Fourth Hypothesis 91 4.3.2. Verification of the Fifth Hypothesis 108 4.3.3. Verification of the Sixth Hypothesis 116 Chapter Five Conclusion and Recommendations 5.1. Summary 123 5.2. Suggestions for Further Studies 130 References 131 vii Chapter One Introduction Chapter One Introduction 1.1. Background Rebecca (1938), an admirable novel written by the English novelist Daphne du Maurier (1907-1989), is a great work of literature. The novel, however, has been wronged by contemporary critics; it was ignored, underestimated, abused and underrated. The writer of this study believes that the novel must be re-read and viewed with new appreciation in order to take its position among the greatest canonical works of literature. The novel tells the story of a young orphan girl (heroine and narrator) who was working as a hired companion for a Mrs Van Hopper, an old and terrible American woman. She was in France at the Hôtel Côte d’Azur in Monte Carlo with Mrs Van Hopper when she met Mr de Winter (the hero), a very rich man and the owner of Manderley. He was there immediately after the death of his first wife Rebecca. The heroine loved him, and they got married shortly after their encounter. In her new home, Manderley, the heroine suffered from Rebecca’s strong influence in the house. The favourable image which she drew a bout Rebecca constituted a source of restless worry, and constructed a strong barrier between her and her husband believing that he still loved Rebecca. Her youthful hopes that she could overcome this barrier were obstructed by Mrs Danvers, the arrogant housekeeper who brought up Rebecca, and who was desperate to keep Rebecca’s influence in the house. An explosion caused by the collision of a stranded ship with Rebecca’s drowned boat disclosed the truth. Rebecca’s body was found in the drowned boat. Only then did the heroine come close to her husband. He then told her 2 that he had killed Rebecca. It turned out that she is unlike the picture in the heroine’s mind—quite the reverse. As the barriers between them were removed by the unearthing of the truth and the burial of Rebecca’s body, Mr and Mrs de Winter struggled together to acquit Mr de Winter from the murder of Rebecca. They succeeded; Rebecca was reported as having committed suicide, but Manderley was burnt up, most probably by Mrs Danvers, being already distressed by Rebecca’s death and now displeased with the result of the inquest. The novel is of a high technical scale. The characters are well defined. It also reflects a brilliant descriptive gift. It provides a profound critical study of literary trends influencing British fiction writing. Romantic spirit dominates the novel but with special significance and symbolism. A critical view of romanticism, mirrored in most aspects of the novel, is counteracted by du Maurier’s own favourable perception of romance. Furthermore, the themes treated by the novel are diagnostic as well as prognostic of the conditions and problems of Britain at the time of the story just as they are constant and ever-demanding issues of universal concern. When published in 1938, the novel was met by wide success; it was best seller and made successful film. Richardson (1969) wrote: “Then in 1938 came what is probably her most famous novel, Rebecca. This romantic novel . has all the ingredients of a best seller” (p. 179). Thus, du Maurier was established as one of the popular authors. Other than romantic, best seller and popular, critics and literary theorists had nothing more to say in favour of the novel. This depreciation is unfair. Justice must take its course; a re-perusal is proposed by this study in order to change the verdict and vindicate the novel status. 3 1.2. Definition of Terms For the purpose of this study: Daphne du Maurier will be mentioned as the author, the novelist, the writer or du Maurier.