Rebecca: Chapter 7 Summary & Analysis

Max—or Maxim, as the narrator still calls him—and the narrator arrive at Manderley in early May. Manderley, which is in England, is rainy and wet. The narrator realizes that she’s been dreading her arrival to her husband’s home following their honeymoon. Maxim happily points out the landmarks on his property, but the narrator can only think of how the servants and guests at Manderley will treat her. Maxim warns the narrator that his principle servant, Mrs. Danvers, is a very severe woman, but also highly capable.

Maxim and the narrator drive to Manderley. When they’re only a short distance from the house itself, the narrator notices that all the servants are standing outside, ready to welcome her. She sees an old, kind-looking man—the butler—whom Maxim addresses as Frith. Frith greets Maxim and tells him that Mrs. Danvers was the one who ordered all the servants to assemble outside. Maxim isn’t surprised at all.

As the narrator emerges from the car, she sees an older woman walking toward her. Maxim introduces her as Mrs. Danvers. The narrator finds that she can’t remember exactly what Danvers says to her at the time—it was a cold, lifeless speech welcoming her to Manderley.

Inside Manderley, Maxim and the narrator greet Maxim’s prized cocker spaniels, Jasper and his old, blind mother. The narrator, comforted by the sight of the dogs, looks around the library. There is an old, lilac smell in the air, and the room is full of dust.

The narrator thinks of everything that has happened to her lately. Several months have passed since her time in Monte Carlo—in that time, she’s been married to Maxim, and honeymooned through France and Italy. Maxim has been in joyous spirits lately, and proven himself to be more youthful and energetic than the narrator had thought.

The narrator looks around Manderley, her new home. Surveying her library, she can’t believe that she’s standing inside the building that she’d glimpsed on cards as a child. Suddenly, Frith opens the door and tells her that Mrs. Danvers has asked her to come to her new room. The narrator goes to join Mrs. Danvers. Maxim tells her to “make friends.”

Frith leads the narrator to her new bedroom. The narrator finds herself feeling nervous—she says that the house is “very big,” then realizes she’s sounding childish. They arrive in the bedroom, where Frith leaves the narrator with Mrs. Danvers. Danvers is very quiet and severe-looking. The narrator smiles, and Danvers doesn’t smile in return. Mrs. Danvers tells the narrator she’s there to carry out her orders at all times. She explains that this bedroom is intended for the narrator, though previously no one used it at all.

The narrator asks Mrs. Danvers if she’s been at Manderley for long. Danvers explains that she’s been at Manderley ever since the first Mrs. de Winter was married. As Danvers speaks of Mrs. de Winter, the narrator notes that she seems exhilarated and excited for the first time. Danvers stares at the narrator with pity and scorn. Feeling uncomfortable, the narrator tells Danvers that she hopes they’ll become friends. She adds that her new, wealthy life is foreign to her, and Danvers’s expression grows even more scornful. Danvers tells the narrator that she’ll soon begin planning parties for the narrator, and adds that she’s decorated the house according to the first Mrs. de Winter’s wishes. Danvers tells the narrator that the first Mrs. de Winter’s bedroom is located on the other side of the house.

Suddenly, Maxim enters the narrator’s bedroom. Cheerfully, he praises the décor of the room, and notes that it was wasted in years past, when it was only a guest room. Mrs. Danvers leaves, bowing to Maxim. Maxim asks the narrator how she’s gotten along with Danvers, and she admits that Danvers seemed “a little bit stiff.” Maxim tells the narrator that she must try to get along with Danvers, since she’s an excellent servant. Maxim adds that Mrs. Danvers never bullies him, since he, of course, has the power to fire her.

In the evening, Alice, a maid, dresses the narrator for dinner. The narrator wears an old dress that Mrs. Van Hopper gave her months ago. At dinner, the narrator laughs with Maxim, happy that the other servants don’t stare her down, as Mrs. Danvers did. Yet after dinner, as the narrator sits by the fire with Maxim, she becomes conscious that she’s sitting in Rebecca’s chair, drinking from the cups that Rebecca used to use, etc.