Symbolism in Rebecca

Vocabulary flashcards defining key symbols and their representations from Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca based on the lecture notes.

Symbol

An element that has a literal meaning but also represents something else.

Rhododendrons

Fifty-foot-high plants in Rebecca that are twisted and entwined with bracken, symbolizing danger, warning, a toxic nature hidden behind a beautiful exterior, an untouchable barrier, and a twisted mind or strange spirit.

Je Reviens

The French name of Rebecca's boat, translating directly to "I come back," which symbolizes her persistent presence, mystery, foreshadowing, and irony.

The letter “R”

Rebecca's initial written in a curious slanting hand where the tall and sloping letter dwarfs others; it symbolizes Rebecca's overbearing presence, ruin mark, and stain, which the narrator attempts to destroy by burning the paper.

Manderley

The secretive, silent estate described as "a jewel in the hollow of a hand," which symbolizes status, reputation, past power, a prison, and Rebecca's legacy.