Rebecca Marriage Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

"Not in a church?" I asked. "Not in white, with bridesmaids, and bells, and choir boys? What about your relations, and all your friends?"

"You forget […] I had that sort of wedding before." (6.82-84)

This is the sort of thing that makes Mrs. de Winter feel like she's playing second fiddle to Rebecca. But that's because she's already decided that Maxim is still in love with Rebecca. In reality, he's trying to do everything the opposite of how he did it with Rebecca in hopes it will turn out better.

Quote #5

"Of course," she said, "you know why he is marrying you, don't you? You haven't flattered yourself he's in love with you? The fact is that empty house got on his nerves to such an extent he nearly went off his head. He admitted as much before you came into the room. He just can't go on living there alone..." (6.119)

As Mrs. de Winter later learns, Mrs. Van Hopper's words, though not entirely accurate and surely mean-spirited, have some truth in them. It's never clear whether Maxim actually loves her when he asks her to marry him. He doesn't tell her so until after she agrees to love him as the murderer he is.

Quote #6

"I came here when the first Mrs. de Winter was a bride," [Mrs. Danvers] said, and her voice, which had […] been dull and toneless, was harsh now with unexpected animation, with life and meaning, and there was a spot of colour on the gaunt cheek-bones. (7.79)

We don't know how long Rebecca and Maxim were married. But we do know it was long enough for the azalea and rhododendron trees Rebecca planted to flourish and long enough for lots of hate to build up. Notice also how Mrs. Danvers brightens up a tad when she talks of Rebecca.