Rebecca - Characters & Cast

Her primary motivation is to win the love and approval of her husband, Maxim, and to feel worthy of her new position as Mrs. de Winter. She desperately wants to build a happy marriage, but this is constantly thwarted by the feeling that she is living in Rebecca's shadow.

She begins as a timid, shy, and deeply insecure paid companion. Thrust into the opulent but oppressive world of Manderley, she is initially overwhelmed and psychologically tormented by Mrs. Danvers and the memory of Rebecca. Her arc is one of maturation; after learning Maxim's secret, she sheds her passivity and fear, transforming into a strong, assertive woman who fights for her husband and her own identity.

His motivation is to escape the traumatic memory of his first marriage and find peace and happiness. He marries the protagonist impulsively, seeing her innocence as an antidote to his past. However, he is motivated by a deep-seated fear that the truth about Rebecca's death will be revealed.

Maxim is initially presented as a charming, wealthy, and brooding aristocrat. After returning to Manderley, he becomes moody, distant, and prone to outbursts of anger, tortured by a past his new wife doesn't understand. His arc involves the revelation of his true past: his marriage to Rebecca was a sham, and he has been living with the secret of her death. His confession allows him to shed the tormenting facade and form a genuine bond with his second wife.

Her sole motivation is the preservation of Rebecca's memory and legacy. She sees the new Mrs. de Winter as an unworthy usurper and is driven by a deep-seated hatred and resentment to psychologically destroy her and drive her from Manderley.

Mrs. Danvers has no positive arc; she is a static character consumed by her obsession. From her first appearance, she is cold, imposing, and hostile towards the new Mrs. de Winter. Her devotion to the memory of Rebecca is fanatical and has a sinister, psychological depth. As the protagonist grows stronger, Mrs. Danvers' manipulation escalates until her final, destructive act of burning down Manderley, preferring its destruction to seeing it possessed by another.

His motivations are greed and malice. He wants to expose Maxim, not out of a sense of justice for Rebecca, but to extort money from him. He also seems to enjoy causing trouble and disrupting the aristocratic world of Manderley.

Jack Favell is Rebecca's cousin and lover. He is a sleazy, manipulative character who provides a burst of energy and overt villainy. He remains unchanged throughout the film, consistently acting out of self-interest and a desire to profit from the situation. He attempts to blackmail Maxim, believing he murdered Rebecca, and serves as a key catalyst in the final act's investigation.