The Use of Symbolism in Rebecca, a Novel by Daphne du Maurier

How is symbolism used in Rebecca? Arguably, Du Maurier uses Jaspar as a key character to symbolise the way in which the narrator believes people see her, and in the downfall and as a reflection of the narrator’s relationship and marriage with Maxim. This could be Du Maurier hinting at an unpassionate and almost unloving relationship as, through the use of the character of an animal, this symbol helps to connote the idea that what the narrator and Maxim have is a companionship and seek a sense of solace away from loneliness in each other.

This juxtaposes the idea that they have a stronger friendship aspect rather than having a romantic aspect to their relationship as Du Maurier often uses the narrator to show that Maxim “kisses me on my forehead” and “he likes me in the way I like Jaspar“, which could connote to the idea that they, possibly, have an almost familial relationship and that Maxim has a paternalistic nature to him 7 this is heightened as he calls the narrator a “child" frequently throughout the novel.

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It could be argued that Du Maurier uses the repetition of Rebecca’s presence as an important image to symbolise and foreshadow the return of Rebecca and to highlight the narrator‘s paranoia of the fact that Maxim still loves his dead wife and that she does not fit into the stereotypical, ideal wife for Maxim, This is an important symbol used by Du Maurier as there are small events needing to the return of Rebecca, such as when the narrator smashes the “china cupid" which was a wedding present to Maxim and Rebecca which could be used to symbolise the subconscious jealousy that the narrator feels because she believes that their marriage was a happy one.

The presence of Rebecca is also shown and her return is foreshadowing in a rather vital way when the narrator finds the name of Rebecca’s boat which was “je reviens: I come back" which highlights in a large way that she may return in some way.

Another example of symbolism used by Du Maurier to foreshadow Rebecca‘s return and to show the narrator’s possible paranoia is the description used by the narrator to describe Rebecca’s handwriting as it is “dwarfing its fellow (letters)” and had a “a sense of towering superiority” which could be used to imply that the narrator feels that she is a weaker character compared to Rebecca and that she feels inferior to who Rebecca was and what she was like. The word “dwarfing” implies that the words around are made or appear smaller due to the “slanting R” of Rebecca’s initial and this could reflect or connote the idea that this is how the narrator feels when Mrs Danvers or other characters’ mention Rebecca or something that she used to do or say Symbolism through nature, particularly the description of “rhododendrons”, is a key image throughout the novel. Du Maurier successfully uses the description of the “blood red”, “crimson“ and “slaughterous red" to provide a negative and also quite dark and dangerous, which could also connote that their relationship will end badly or end in disaster or that something bad is heading their way. However, it could also imply that, although there is a lack of passion in their relationship at the moment, there could be a sense of passion or true romance as the book continues.