Abstract:

Rebecca is the masterpiece of Daphne du Maurier. There are a great number of the descriptions of natural scenery, especially, the rhododendron and the sea. This article will explore the symbolic meanings of natural images. The image of rhododendron is the authentic portrayal of Rebecca, reflection of marriage and course of “my” life and mood diary. The image of sea is symbol of freedom, moods and thoughts of the author. The author uses the scenery descriptions to promote the development of the plot, to reveal the character’s psychology. I hope these exploration can help deepen the understanding of the novel.

Key words: rhododendron; sea; natural image; symbolic meanings

摘要：

《蝴蝶梦》是达夫妮•杜穆里埃的成名作。小说中的自然意象随处可见，盛开在曼德利庄园的石楠花和大海作为意象被多次提及,本文将探究这些自然意象丰富的象征意义。石楠花是吕蓓卡形象的写照，是他们婚姻的反映，也表明了“我”情绪的变化。大海则是自由的象征，与此同时反映了“我”和作者思想的转变。作者用景物的描写推动情节的发展，揭示人物的心理。希望这些探究能深化对小说内涵的理解。

关键词：石楠花；大海；自然意象；象征意义

1. Introduction
1.1 Introduction to Daphne du Maurier
Daphne du Maurier, novelist, biographer, and playwright, was born in an art family in London on May 13,1907. Her father, Sir Gerald du Maurier, was a famous actor-manager and her grandfather was also a famous artist in England. She was nourished by the artistic nurture when she was only a little girl in this environment. She began writing short stories and articles in 1928. After writing a lot of short stories, she began to write biographies and novels. Influenced by the 19th-century Gothic novels, her works were always winding in plot and mysterious in atmosphere. In 1931 her first novel, The Loving Spirit, was published. Then, she wrote a series of fantastic works. Her works have been adapted onto screens and have been repeatedly rewritten.