淺析《蝴蝶夢》中哥特元素

ABriefAnalysisoftheGothicElementsinRebecca淺析《蝴蝶夢》中哥特元素 ABriefAnalysisoftheGothicElementsinRebeccaAbstract:RebeccaiswrittenbyaBritishwomanwriter,DaphneduMaurier,publishedin1938,wonthenationalbookawardin1938,andplayaimportantroleinGothicnovelsof20thcentury.Becauseofitspopularity,thenovelhasbeentranslatedintomanylanguagesandhasbeenmadeintoafilm.Inaddition,thestudyoftheGothicelementsinRebeccahasneverstopped.Onthebasisoftheexistingresearch,thispaperwillanalysetheGothicismanditseffectsinthearticle.Thethesisisdividedintofourparts.Thefirstpartintroducestheauthorandhisworks,andintroducesthedefinitionofGothicismandthefeaturesandcommonpointsinGothicnovels.ThesecondpartmainlyanalyzestheGothicsceneinRebeccaanditsroleinthetext,andanalyzestheimplication.ThethirdpartmainlyanalyzesthecharactersoftheRebeccaanditsGothicelementsanditsfunctions.Theendpartwillsummarizethewholethesisandsummarizetheresults.Keywords:RebeccaGothicsettingcharacters摘要：《蝴蝶夢》是英國女作家達(dá)芙妮·杜穆里埃創(chuàng)作的長篇小說，發(fā)表于1938年，榮獲1938年美國國家圖書獎，在20世紀(jì)的哥特小說中占重要地位。小說由于其知名度，被翻譯成多種文字，后被拍成電影。除此之外，對《蝴蝶夢》中哥特元素的研究也從未停止。在對其已有的研究基礎(chǔ)上，本文將研究文章中的哥特元素及其體作用。論文分為四部分。第一部分介紹作者及其作品，并介紹哥特主義的定義以及在哥特式小說中體現(xiàn)出的特征和共同點。第二部分主要分析蝴蝶夢中出現(xiàn)的哥特場景及其在文中的作用，分析其中蘊含的含義。第三部分主要分析蝴蝶夢中的人物和其身上的哥特元素及作用。結(jié)尾部分將對整篇論文進(jìn)行總結(jié)，總結(jié)分析結(jié)果。關(guān)鍵詞：《蝴蝶夢》哥特背景人物 ContentsTOC\o"1-3"\h\u323001.Introduction (Name:ZhangWenqiClass:14.1Number:20Tutor/Title:GuoZhe/LectureDate:2018.5.27ABriefAnalysisoftheGothicElementsinRebecca1.IntroductionDaphneduMaurierDaphneduMaurierisoneofthemostoutstandingBritishwritersoftheGothicromanceandmysteryinthe20thcentury.Shewroteseventeenfull-lengthnovelsanddozensofotherformsofnovel,andRebeccaisherbest-knownwork.ShelivedinEngland,sheenjoythefeelingoffreedom,soshealwaysgooutdoorandtravel.Inherfamily,therearetwoimportantpeoplewhoinflectedherverymuch,Daphne’sgrandfather,adistinguishedillustratorforPunchandfamouswriter;andDaphne’sfather,awell-knownactor-manager.Daphnewasinflectedbyherfamily,shelovednatureandfreedom,in1931,shewroteherfirstnovel,TheLovingSpirit,afterthathernovelkeptcomingout.Daphnelivedinahouseneartheseafor25years,soinhernovelthesurroundingsissimilarity.Rebeccafirstpublishedin1938,wasDaphne'sfifthnovel.Itwastobecomethemostfamousofhermanybooks.Itlaunchedherintotheliterarystratosphereandmadeheroneofthemostpopularauthorsofherday.Shealsowroteahistoricalnovelandseveralplays."JamaicaInn"and"Rebecca"werebroughttothescreenin1939and1940.AlthoughtheJamaicaInncausedquiteastirintheUK,thesuccessofRebeccawasevenmorebrilliant."JamaicaInn"and"theFrenchman’sCreek",weonceagainleadintoherdarkandmysteriousatmosphere,tohearherdrawinghorror,thriller,extraordinarystory,feelingherpeculiarflowinglikethegentletouchingcharmoflanguage.Perhapsbecauseoftherelationshipbetweenwomenwriters,DaphneduMaurierpaidmoreattentiontothefateofwomen.Herprotagonistsaremostlywomen,likeRebeccainRebecca,MaryintheJamaicaInn,DonnainFrenchman’sCreek.Thismakesthestorymorecomplicatedandconfusing,italsocanarousethereader'simaginationandcuriositysecretly,andarousereaders'attentiontothefateoftheheroine.Inhernovel,goodpeoplealwayshavegoodnews.ThelonelygirloftheJamaicaInnfinallytriumphedoverthedemonsandwentawaywithherlover.TheladywholivesintheharboralsogoestoFrancewithherheroes.Theauthor'slanguageisfullofwomen'sdelicate,sensitiveandtenderfeelings.RebeccaRebeccaisapopularGothicnovel.Thenarrator“I”isanaiveyoungwomanwhomarriesMaximdeWinter,anaristocratseveralyearsolderthanher.DuringherlifeinManderleyshewasdeeplyinfluencedbytheshadowofMaxim’sfirstwife,Rebecca,whodiedinManderleyoneyearearlier.Mrs.Danvers,thestewardessofManderley,adoresRebecca,shealwaysmakesthenarratorfeelRebeccawastherealownerofManderley.ShefoundthatMaximdoesn’tliketorefertoRebecca,andshecanfindthetracesofRebeccaanywhere,soshethinksMaximstilllovesRebeccaandneverforgetsher.Shefeelssadanddepressed,andimitatesRebecca,bydoingso,shewantstomakeMaximhappy,butallthesethingsjustmakehimangryandpainful.ThensheknowsthetruthofRebecca.Rebeccausesherfemininetraitstoensnaremen,bringingdisasterstothem.WhatRebeccadomakeMaximunbearable.WhenRebeccafindsoutthatshewasill,shewillsuffermorepain,soshemakeaplantoletMaximkillsher.AfterherdeathMaximalwaysworrythatsomeonewillfindthathekilledRebecca.Hewantstogetawayfromthesefeelings.HeleavesManderleyandmeetsthenarrator.Afterthenarratorknowsthetruth,shesucceedsinbreakingawayfromRebecca’sinfluence.Intheendofthestory,MrsDanverscan’tacceptthetruth,sosheburneduptheManderley.theGothicElementsGothicfictionoriginallyaroseinEnglandinthelate18thandearly19thcentury.IntheseGothicnovel,therearesomecharacteristics:1.Settings:Thestoryusuallyhappenedinsomeremoteplaces,suchastheoldcastlesormanor.Thebuildingusuallyfeatureshiddenpassages,trapdoors,dungeonsorsecretrooms,andhassufferedadeclinefromitsformergreatness.Theenvironmentaroundthesettingreflectsableakorforebodingatmosphere.2.Atmosphereandemotions:Gothicliteraturestressesanatmosphereofmystery,horroranddread.Thewriterwillbuildterroratmospherebythesettings,charactersanddrama.3.Thecharacters:IntheGothicnovels,therearefourkindsofmaincharacters--“ghost”,“damselindistress”,“believer”,“hero”.The“ghost”isantagonist,itisusedtorevealtheuglinessofhumannatureandevil.The“damselindistress”canbedividedintotwokinds:(1)borninapoorfamily,haverebelliousspirit,gothroughpainandsuffering.(2)borninawealthyfamily,butcan’tdecideowndestiny,orbecomeavictimbecauseoftherightofinheritance.The“believers”inGothicnovelsisthesignificanceoftheevil.The“hero”intheGothicnovelsusuallyiscruelandbossy,orascoldasmarble.ThereisaspecialheroinGothicnovels--villain-hero,theyareevilandcharmingatthesametime.4.Thedrama:TheeventsinGothicliteratureemphasizehighemotionandoftenreflectaheightenedsenseofdrama.Examplesincludemurders,kidnappings,peoplegoingmadandtragicillnesses.ThesupernaturaloftenappearsinGothicliterature,too.InRebecca,Rebeccaisthe“ghost”,sheistheshadowofnarrator,taketheterrorandrepressiontothenarrator.Atthebeginningofthenovel,shehasdied,butsheseemstostillbewiththenarrator.“I”isthedamselindistress,shewasborninapoorlife,thenshemetMaxim,herhero,takeshertothehappylife,butaftershemarried,shefindseffectofMaxim’slastwifeanywhere.Shebecamedepressiveandevencrazy.Intheend,sheknowthetruththenhasahappylifewithMaxim.Mrs.DanversisthebelieverofRebecca,sheadoresRebecca.ShethinksRebeccaisaperfectpeople,soshecan’tacceptthatotherpeoplebecomethenewownerofManderley,thenewlifeofMaxim.Shedoesmanythingstoletnarratorthinkshecan’tbeMaxim’swife.Maximisthe“hero”,hetakesthenarratoroutofpoverty,buthedoesn’tgiveenoughconcerntothenarrator,hepaysmoreattentiontootherthings,hedoesn’tnoticethebadfeelingsofthenarrator.2.TheGothicSettingsManywritersuseGothicsettingsintheirnovel,whichcanexpressakindoffantasy,andromanticatmosphere.Rebeccaisalovestory,inthisstorytherearemanyGothicsettings,Daphneusethesesettingstocreateaterroratmosphere,andtoexpressthefeelingsofthecharacters.2.1ManderleyFormostpeople,Manderleyisawonderfulplace,butasfor“I”andMaxim,itisaterribleplace.Atthebeginningofthenovel,“I”wasnotatManderley,but“I”dreamt“I”wenttoManderleyagain,“I”describethatplacelikethis“Nosmokecamefromthechimney,andthelittlelatticewindowsgapedforlorn.Thedrivewoundawayinfrontofme,twistingandturningasithadalwaysdone.Itwasnarrowandunkept.”(duMaurier,1938:1)Itseemsthatthereisnopeopleandnosmoke,andtheroadisnarrowandtwisting,thesethingsbuildakindofhorrificatmosphere.TheseGothicdescriptionsletreadersthink,thinkaboutwhythenarratorfearedthatplace,andwhathappenedtoher.IntheGothicnovels,thestoryusuallyhappenedinsomeremoteplaces,suchastheoldcastlesormanor,likeRebecca,thisstoryhappenedinManderley,aoldmanor,when“I”firstvisitRebecca:“Thedrivetwistedandturnedasaserpent,scarcewiderinplacesthanapath,andaboveourheadswasagreatcolonnadeoftrees,whosebranchednoddedandintermingledwithoneanother,makinganarchwayforus,likearoofofachurch.Eventhemiddaysunwouldnotpenetratetheinterlacingofthosegreenleaves.”(duMaurier,1938:64)TheroadtoManderleyisnarrow,evenlikeasnake,andtherearetoomanytrees,theyhidetheroad,thereisnolight.Allthesedescriptionsmakereadersfeeldepressiveandhaveasinkingfelling.“...andoneithersideofuswasawallofcolour,blood-red,reachingfaraboveourheads.”(duMaurier,1938:65)Thenthenarratorsawakindofflowers,theflowerisred,butthereisblood-red,thewriterusebloodtodescribethiskindofred,thatmakepeoplethrilling,whenpeoplereallysawthisview,willfeelsickandterrified.“Thewoodshadnotpreparedmeforthem.Theystartledmewiththeircrimsonfaces,massedoneupontheotherinincredibleprofusion,showingnoleaf,notwig,nothingbuttheslaughterousred,lusciousandfantastic,unlikeanyrhododendronplantIhadseenbefore.”(duMaurier,1938:65)Theflowersarenoleaf,notwig,thenarratorjustcannoticethecolor--red,andtheredis“slaughterous”,thatmeansmurderous,termagant.Thiskindofdescriptionoftheredofflowerssuggeststhatthefollowingdramaiswithbloodandterror.Theselandscapeletreadersbecuriousaboutthefollowingdrama,andletreadersknowtherearesomebadthingswillhappen.Whateveraircametothisroom,whetherfromthegardenorfromthesea,wouldloseitsfirstfreshness,becomingpartoftheunchangingroomitself,onewiththebooks,mustyandneverread,onewiththescrolledceiling,thedarkpanelling,theheavycurtain.”Theairoftheroomisn’tfresh,thecurtainisheavy,theceilingisscrolled,thepanellingisblack,theroomistooquiet,andthecolorisblack,ifpeoplereallyareinthiskindofroom,theymustbedepressive.Before“I”seeManderley,“I”thinkitisbeautiful,butinfactitisnotsameas“I”imagined.Manderleyisfamousforitsbeauty,butwhenthenarratorarrived,shewasshocked,suchdescriptionsofManderleysuggeststhatthelifethatmaynotbebadthathappy.Inthewholenovel,mostdescriptionsoftheManderleyarehorrificanddepressive.2.2TheboathouseAfter“I”cametoManderley,Maximtake“I”toabeautifulplacecalledHappyValley.ThenbecauseofJasper,“I”findtheboathouse,thatboathouseisnearasea,Maximdoesn’twanttoseethehouseandthesea.“Thatrustedgrateknewnofire,thisdustyfloornofootsteps,andthechinathereonthedresserwasblue-spottedwiththedamp.Therewasaqueermustysmellabouttheplace.Cobwebsspunthreadsupontheship’smodels,makingtheirownghostlyrigging.”(duMaurier,1938:112)Thisroomseemsthatthereisnopeopleliveforalongtime:thegrateisrusted,thefloorismusty,thechinaiscoveredwiththeblue-spottedbecauseofthedamp,thereisstrangemustysmellintheroom.Therearemanycobwebsthreadsupontheship’smodels,likeghostrig.Allofthesebuildauncomfortableatmosphere.“Itwasdampinthecottage,dampandchill.Dark,andoppressive.Ididnotlikeit.Ihadnowishtostaythere.Ihatedthehollowsoundoftherainpatteringontheroof.Itseemedtoechointheroomitself,andIheardthewaterdrippingtoointotherustedgrate.”(duMaurier,1938:112)Then“I”hearsomevoice,thedoorcreaked,therainpatteredontheroof,butallthesevoiceiswithahollowsound.Theroomiswet,darkandmakepeoplefeeldepressive.“I”feelscaryandwanttoleavehere.Whenshefindtheboathouse,thedescriptionsoftheviewchanged,theyarenotbeautifulanymore,theatmospherebecamehorrific.Maximkillherwifehereandthrowherintothesea,sohedoesn’twanthertoseethisboathouseandthesea.Afterthattheyhadanargument,fromtheyfirstvisittothevalleytotheyfindingtheboathouse,theviewchanged,frombeautifultohorrific.Intheend,Maximtoldthenarratorthetruth,thatisMaximkilledRebeccainthishouse,thatdayMaximcan’tstandwhatRebeccadidandaskedhertostop,thentheyhaveanargument,Maximwastooangry,sohekilledRebecca:“Sheturnedroundandfacedme,smiling,onhandinherpocket,theotherholdinghercigarette.WhenIkilledhershewassmilingstill.Ifiredatherheart.Thebulletpassedrightthrough.Shedidnotfallatonce.Shestoodhere,lookingatme,thatslowsmileonherface,hereyeswideopen...”(duMaurier,1938:280)Thereisaperson,Rebecca,waskilledinthisboathouse,andwhenshewaskilled,shewaswithastrangesmile,andwhenshewaskilled,shestillstoodtherewithasmile,allthesethingsmakepeoplecreepy.SoMaximdidn’twanttoseethisroomagain,when“I”foundthishouse,Maximhadanargumentwithe“I”.2.3TheweatherTheweatherinRebeccausuallyisbad,forexample:Onetime,MaximtookthenarratortoaplacewherehearguedwithRebeccaandwanttokillRebecca.Maximbecamestrange,letthenarratorfeeltheywilldistogether.Beforethedramahappened,theweatherwaschanged:“Thewinddropped,anditsuddenlygrewcold.”(duMaurier,1938:29)BeforethenarratorwenttotheManderley,theweatherwasdescribedlikethis:“...Iremember,leavingLondoninthemorninginaheavyshowerofrain,...”(duMaurier,1938:61)MaximwillbringthenarratortoManderley,abeautifulplace.Itseemsthatitshouldbeagoodthing,butinfact,thelifeofthenarratorinManderleyisnotgood.SotheweatherbeforetheywenttoManderleywasbad,itrainedheavily.Itsuggestedthenextdramaisnothappy.What’smore,inthisnovel,itbuildhorrificatmospherefromthetemperature,colourandweather.it’susuallycold,andthecolormostisdepressive,suchasblack,blood-red.Andinthisnovel,therealwaysisrainy.Theseweatherisconnectedtothedrama.“AhurryingcloudhidthesunforamomentasIwatch,andtheseachangedthecolourinstantly,becomingblack...”(duMaurier,1938:90)Thenarratorlostherway,shelivedintheeastwing,butthereiswestwing,theroomRebeccalivedinthepast.Whenthenarratorcameintothisroom,thesunwascoveredbyacloud,theseasoonbecameblack.Itseemsthateverythingdoesn’twelcomethenarrator.AfterthatMrs.Danversappearedandreallywantedtoletnarratorhavealookofthewestwing,Mrs.DanverswanttodemonstratetheexistenceofRebecca.TheviewsuggestedthatMrs.Danversdoesn’twelcomethenarrator.Theweatherofearlyafternoonisgood,becauseMaximwilltake“I”totheHappyValley,butthen“I”willfindtheboathousewhichMaximdoesn’twant“I”toknow.ItwillmakeMaximangry.BecauseMaximdidn’twantthenarratortofindthehouse,thenarratorcontinuedtogototheboathouse,Maximbecameangry,and“I”willbepuzzledandsad,sotheweatherchanged:“Thesky,nowovercastandsullen,sochangedfromtheearlyafternoon...”(duMaurier,1938:109)First,because“I”findtheboathouse,althoughMaximwasrecoveredbuttherewasabarrierbetweenthenarratorandMaxim.Secondwhen“I”entertainthevisitors,“I”wasawkward,didn’tsaymanywords.“I”findtheexpressionthatRebeccaismuchbetterthan“I”invisitors’eye.Third“I”metthebishop’swife,shesaymanythingswhatRebeccadoes,andpraiseher.Allthesethingsletmethink“I”can’tcomparewithRebecca.AndthenMaximdidn’tseemeforaquiteweek.Sotheweatherchanged:“Theweatherwaswetandcoldforaquiteweek,...”(duMaurier,1938:119)Theweatherbecamewetandcold,itwilllastaquiteweek.Itsuggestedthattherearemanybadthingswillhappenduringaquiteweek.Allthesedescriptionsofweathersuggestthefollowingdrama,andmakereadersbeinahorrificatmosphereallthetime,lookforwardtothefollowingstory.3.ThecharactersInGothicnovels,thereareusuallyfourmaincharacters,likeRebecca,“ghost”--Rebecca,“damselindistress”--I,“believer”--Mrs.Danvers,“hero”--Maxim.3.1Rebecca-ghostGhostisthesymbolofterror.InmostGothicnovels,the“ghost”isusuallyeverywhere.Theymaybehavedied,orinotherpeople’seyes,theydied.Theyhaveagoodside,buttheyhaveabadside,too.Theyalwaysmakethenarratorshorrific.Fromthestartofthenovel,Rebeccahasdied.Rebeccaisaangel,butsheisalsoademon.Weknowherfromotherpeople’sword,shewasverybeautiful,charmingandsmart,putthemanorinorder.ButasforMaxim,sheisaevilwoman,sheisdissolute,sheplayswithmanymen’saffectionandsheenjoyedthat.Asfor“I”,sheisaghost,shecanbefoundanywhere.Sheisaghostthatcanbefoundeverywhereandtaketerrortothenarrator.“I”findthetracesofRebeccainanywhere,theroomshelived,thebooksheread,thepoemshewrote,theManderleyshearranged:“Thiswasawoman’sroom,graceful,fragile,theroomofsomeonewhohadchoseneveryparticleoffurniturewithgreatcare,sothatchair,eachvase,eachsmall,infinitesimalthingshouldbeinharmonywithoneanother,andwithherownpersonality.Itwasasthoughshewhoarrangedthisroomhadsaid:“ThisIwillhave,andthis,andthis,”...(duMaurier,1938:82)EverythingintheManderleywasarrangedbyRebecca,thatmake“I”feelself-contemptuous,“I”thinkthereisnothingbelongstomyself.“I”evencanimaginehowRebeccadesigntheserooms.Thesethingsmakethenarratorapprehensive.AsforMaxim,shewasapersonwhomadehimcrazy.“Shebegantoaskherfriendsdownhere.Shewouldhaveoneortwoofthemandmixedupataweek-endparty.ThenstartedonFrank,poorshyfaithfulFrank.HecametomeonedayandsaidhewantedtoleaveManderleyandtakeanotherjob.Wearguedtwohours,hereinthelibrary,andthenIunderstood.Hebrokedownandtoldme.Sheneverlethimalone,hesaid,shewasalwaysgoingdowntohishouse,tryingtogethimtothecottage.”(duMaurier,1938:275)Rebeccaplaywithmanypeople’slove,sheholdpartyinManderleywiththosepeople.SheevenwanttoletFrank,theworkerinManderley,tojointhem.Butallofthesethingsisn’tknownformostpeople,theyallthinkRebeccaisagoodwife,aperfectwoman.Infact,sheplaywithotherman’slove.ThatmakeMaximcan’tstand.Whensheknewshewasillandwilldiewithpain,shedidn’twaitthedeathsilently,sheplantoletMaximkillher.Everythinggoesasshethinks,MaximkilledherandlivedwithscaredandwasundertheshadowofRebeccaallthetimeuntilhemetthenarrator.Inthisnovel,Rebeccaisacontradictorywoman,tosomepeople,shewasanangel,buttosomepeople,shewasademon.Shewasanangel--shewasborninawealthyfamily,shehasgreateducation,shewasbeautiful,smart,lovely,confident.Shewasfamousforthese,sotomostpeopleshewasanangel.Shewasademon--sheisaemulouswoman,shehasthetalentthatsomemendidn’thave,sowhenshefindsMaximisnotthehusbandshewants,thelifeisn’tthelifeshewants,shedidn’tsufferthatsilently.Shestarttoplaywithotherman’slove,shemakesMaximcrazy,thenshefindsshewilldiewithpain,sheplantoletMaximkillherasherrevenge.AndwhatshedidreallyletMaximcrazy,soMaximfindthenarrator.Thenherexistenceandwhatshedidtaketormenttothenarrator.Shedefeatwiththepatriarchy,soshewasunorthodox,that’swhyshewasademon.3.2I--damselindistressTherearetwotypesof“damselindistress”.Oneisthatborninapoorfamily,haverebelliousspirit,gothroughpainandsuffering.Anotheristhatborninawealthyfamily,butcan’tdecideowndestiny,orbecomeavictimbecauseoftherightofinheritance.MostdamselindistressintheGothicnovelsisthefirstkind,like“I”inRebecca.Atfirst,“I”wasainnocent,cowardlygirl.“I”wasa“friend”ofMrs.VanHopper.Mrs.VanHopperconsiderherselfwasalwaysright,andsheisveryvain.“I”can’tstandthesethingsshedoes,thewordshesaid,butbecauseofthemoney,“I”muststand.Butthenthenarratormetthepersonwhowillchangeherlife-Maxim.Maximisahandsomewealthyman.WhenMrs.VanHoppersawMaxim,sheplantocommunicatewithhim.BecausetheManderleyofMaximwassofamous,ifshetalkedaboutMaxim,shecansaythatsheknowMaxim.“‘Thereisapause,andIfellthecolourfloodintomyface....Ithinkherealizedmydistress,forheleantforwardinhischairandspoketome,hisvoicegentle,askingifIwouldhavemorecoffee...’”(duMaurier,1938:16)Mrs.VanHopperignored“I”,thatmakethenarratordistress,Maximnoticedthatandtalkedtothenarrator,bringthenarratoroutofdistress,justlikeahero.Thenduringthenexttime,Maximtookthenarratortomanyplaces,thosetimemadethenarratorveryhappy.Thatmade“I”thoughtherlifewaschanged.ThenMrs.VanHopperwastoleave,thenarratorhurriedtofindMaxim,andMaximwanttomarriedwiththenarrator.Thenarratorgotridoftheoldpoorlife.Shethoughtshewillhaveahappylife,butinfact,thelifeinManderleyisnotgood.Thenarratorsufferedmanythings.Afterthehappyfeelingdisappeared,“I”feelrestless.“I”can’tdealwiththethingsofManderley,MrsDanversalwaysrefertoRebecca.“I”canfeelRebeccaatanywhere,shewastheflowers,shewasthesea,shewastherealownerofManderley,sheappearedinmydream.“I”starttoimitateRebecca,eggedonbyMrs.Danvers,“I”wearRebecca’sdressintheparty.Theirlovewasbadlyhurt.Mrs.Danverswantmetojumptothesea,wantmetodie,but“I”hearthevoiceofship,“I”didn’tdothat.Aftertheshipwasdiscovered,Maximbecameanxious,finallyhetellmethetruththathekilledRebeccaandhedoesn’tloveRebecca.Thentheresultmakeeveryoneshocked,Rebeccaknewshehascancer,andwillsufferpain,sosheplantoletMaximkillher.“‘Theycan’tproveanythingagainstyou,’Isaid.‘Nobodysawyouthatnight’‘Yes.’hesaid.‘Yes.’”(duMaurier,1938:283)Thenarrator’swordcansaveMaxim,herwordscanmakeMaximgetridofthosebadfeelings.ThenthebodyofRebeccawasfound,thenarratorwaswithMaximalthetime,theyfoundRebeccawasill.SoMaximwon’tbepunished.Duringthiscourse,thenarratorfirstwasnotconfident,finallysheknewMaximlovedherandgetridoftheshadowofRebeccaandbecameaconfidentwoman,shewasavictimofpatriarchalsociety.3.3Mrs.Danvers--believerThebelieversinGothicnovelswilltaketerrortothenarratorsandpromotetheplotdevelopment.Inthisnovel,Mrs.DanversisabelieverofRebecca.SheadoredRebecca.Shecan’tstandandotherpeoplebecamethenewownerofManderley.Soshedomanythingstomake“I”feelRebeccawastherealownerofManderley,and“I”can’tcomparewithRebecca.Mrs.Danverstrytoinduce“I”tojumpintothesea.Mrs.Danverstakeshorrificfeelingsto“I”,sheisatypicalGothicperson.Herappearancewasalways:“...someoneadvancedfromtheseaoffaces,someonetallandgaunt,dressedindeepblack,whoseprominentcheek-bonesandgreat,holloweyesgaveheraskull'sfaces,parchment-white,setonaskeleton'sframeShecametowardsme,andIheldoutmyhand,envyingherforherdignityandhercomposure;butwhenshetookmyhandherswaslimpandheavy,deathlycold,anditlayinminelikealifelessthing.”(duMaurier,1938:66)Accordingtothesedescription,wecanguessthiswomanisserious,andsheisnotlikearealperson,sheislikeaghost.Maybetherearesomereasonsmadeherdidn’twanttoleavethisworld.ThenfromthefollowingdramawecanknowthatsheadoredRebecca,butafterRebeccawasdied,shewaslikeadeadperson.Whenthenarratorappeared,shestartedtotormentthenarrator.Sheevenwanttoletthenarratorjumpedtothesea:“Ibackedawayfromhertowardsthewindow,myoldfearandhorrorrisingupinmeagain.Shetookmyarmandhelditlikeavice.‘Whydon’tyougo?Shesaid.Wenoneofusneedyou.’...Shepushedmetowardstheopenwindow....‘Lookdownthere,’shesaid.‘it’seasy,...Whydon’tyoutryit?’‘Don’tbeafraid,Iwon’tpushyou.Youcanjumpupofyourownaccord.’Ishutmyeyes.Themistenteredmynostrilsandlayuponmylipsrankandsoul....IwasbeginningtoforgetRebecca.SoonIwouldnottothinkRebeccaanymore.AsIrelaxedmuhandsandsighed...”(duMaurier,1938:246-247)Mrs.Danverssaymanythings,“I”thinkthosethingsareright:Maximdoesn’tloveme,hewantlivewithRebecca,thereisnobodyneed“I”.“I”wanttojumpfromwindowbecauseofthewordsofMrs.Danvers.Butthenarratorheardthebigvoiceoftheshipsoshedidn’tdothat.Intheendofthestory,Mrs.Danverscan’tacceptthetruth,sosheburnedouttheManderley.3.4Maxim--heroTheheroinGothicnovelsisalwayshandsomeandwealthy,buttherearesomebadthinsintheirpersonality.MaximinRbeccawashandsome,gentle,easy-going,when“I”firstmetMaxim,Mrs.VanHopperforcesMaximintohertalking.Duringthetalking,Maximdidn’tignoremelikeMrs.VanHopper,helet“me”sitdownandaskif“I”needsomecoffee,heletmejointheirtalking.Inthenarrator’sopinion,hewashandsomeandgentle.“‘Thereisapause,andIfellthecolourfloodintomyface....Ithinkherealizedmydistress,forheleantforwardinhischairandspoketome,hisvoicegentle,askingifIwouldhavemorecoffee...’”(duMaurier,1938:16)Second“I”metMaxim,“I”hadlunchwithhim,andItellhimmanythings,suchasmyfamily,Maximsaidhewashappy.Hewaslikeahero,takethenarratoroutofthebadlife.“thenheturnedtomeandspoke.‘...Allmemoriesarebitte