Abstract

Rebecca, a masterpiece of the famous British author Daphne du Maurier, shows the growth of a female “I” and her “leader” Rebecca. In this novel, the author expresses her contempt of male-dominated society and her critique of English upper-class through two feamle characters Rebecca and the growing “I”. Therefore, this paper is a detailed study of the growth of the “I” and the influence of the dead Rebecca, with the focus on how the comparison of these two characters facilitates the writer’s criticism of the male-dominated society and the hypocricy of English upper-class.

Key Words: Rebecca, “I”, Rebecca，male-dominated society, English upper-class

摘 要

《蝴蝶梦》是英国著名作家达芙妮•杜穆里埃的代表作。小说展现了主人公“我”和“我”成长的领路人丽贝卡的成长成熟历程。在小说里，作者通过对两个女性人物丽贝卡和成长中的“我”的形象的塑造，表达了她对男权社会和英国上层阶级的批判。本文着重分析小说中“我”的成长和死去丽贝卡的影响，重点关注杜穆里埃是如何通过两个女性人物的比较来表现她对男权社会和英国上层阶级的批判。

关键词：《蝴蝶梦》；“我”；丽贝卡；男权社会；英国上层阶级

1. Introduction
Daphne du Maurier is one of the representatives of British female writers in 20th century. She has written 17 long novels and some other works in different styles. She indicated her disagreement with the male dominated society and her aggreement with new women by shaping independent and rebellious new women in her works. Rebecca is one of her most famous works which had been adapted into a famous film.
In the novel, the writer told us a story of the growth of a woman. While working as the companion to a rich American woman vacationing on the French Riviera, “I” becomes acquainted with a wealthy Englishman, Maximilian (Maxim) de Winter. After a fortnight of courtship, she agrees to marry him, and after the marriage accompanies him to his mansion, the beautiful West Country estate Manderley. Only upon their arrival at Manderley does the new bride realize how difficult it will be to lay to rest the memory of her husband's first wife, Rebecca. Rebecca is said to have drowned in a sailing accident off the coast next to the mansion a year before, but her memory has a strong hold on the estate and all of its inhabitants and visitors, especially the domineering housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, one of literature's most infamous female villains. Lacking self-confidence and overwhelmed by her new life, the protagonist commits one faux pas after another, until she becomes convinced that Maxim regrets his impetuous decision to marry her and is still deeply in love with the seemingly perfect Rebecca. The revelations from the shipwreck lead Maxim to confess the truth of Rebecca to the second Mrs. de Winter. As a result, “I” becomes relieved to hear that Maxim has never loved Rebecca, but really loves his new wife. And the shadow of Rebecca finally dissappears.