Narrator vs. Social Expectations

Follows the narrator's struggle to meet the social demands of being mistress of Manderley, from formal calls to hosting the ball.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Formal Calls

The Ordeal The Visits The narrator had to return social calls. She dreaded them. She felt awkward and out of place. The Comparisons People compared her to Rebecca. They asked about the ball. They expected her to be like Rebecca. The Failure She stammered and blushed. She knew she made a poor impression. She felt she was letting Maxim down.

The Tea Party

The Social Gathering The Unexpected Guests A group of visitors arrived. The narrator had to host them. She struggled with the silver teapot. The Ball Suggestion Lady Crowan suggested a fancy dress ball. The narrator agreed, though she was anxious. The Pressure She felt the weight of expectation. She had to prove herself as a hostess. The ball would be a test.

The Ball Itself

The Disaster The Costume Mistake She appeared in Rebecca's dress. The guests were shocked. She was humiliated. The Long Night She stood beside Maxim, a wooden figure. She smiled and shook hands. Inside, she was dying. The Aftermath She had failed as a hostess. But she learned that social expectations were not everything. She had to be true to herself.

The Liberation

The Freedom The Exile Now living abroad, the narrator no longer has to meet social expectations. She is free. The Confidence She has lost her shyness. She is comfortable in her own skin. The Lesson She has learned that she does not need to be like Rebecca. She is enough.

First weeks at Manderley

Sunday afternoon

Night of the ball

After the crisis