What Did Mrs. Danvers Do?
Mrs. Danvers, the stern and devoted housekeeper at Manderley, primarily persecuted the new Mrs. de Winter and actively sought to sabotage her marriage to Maxim de Winter. Her actions were driven by an unwavering loyalty to the late Rebecca, the first Mrs. de Winter, and a profound resentment towards anyone she perceived as a threat to Rebecca's memory or legacy.
Her Role and Malicious Actions at Manderley
Following Rebecca's tragic death, Mrs. Danvers remained entrenched in her role, but her loyalty shifted entirely to preserving Rebecca's memory. This devotion manifested as hostility towards the second Mrs. de Winter, who she believed was attempting to usurp Rebecca's place.
Persecution of the New Mrs. de Winter
Mrs. Danvers orchestrated a campaign of emotional and psychological torment against the new Mrs. de Winter. Her key actions included:
- Intense Persecution: She subjected the new Mrs. de Winter to constant subtle and overt harassment, creating an oppressive atmosphere within Manderley.
- Deep-seated Conviction: Mrs. Danvers was convinced that the new Mrs. de Winter was trying to "take Rebecca's place." This belief persisted despite the fact that the two women had never met and were described as being nothing alike in personality or appearance.
- Emotional Manipulation: She expertly manipulated situations and people around the new Mrs. de Winter, eroding her confidence and making her feel perpetually inadequate and unwelcome in her own home.
Attempts to Sabotage the Marriage
Beyond her direct persecution, Mrs. Danvers harbored significant resentment towards Maxim for remarrying and actively worked to destroy his new union. Her efforts included:
- Resentment Towards Maxim: She held a deep resentment for Maxim de Winter's decision to remarry, viewing it as a betrayal of Rebecca's memory.
- Actively Breaking Up the Marriage: Mrs. Danvers took deliberate steps to try and break up the marriage between Maxim and his new wife. Her ultimate goal was to cause irreparable damage to their relationship, driven by her obsessive loyalty to Rebecca.
- Cultivating Discord: She fostered an environment of discomfort and suspicion, aiming to drive a wedge between the couple and ensure the new marriage failed.
In essence, Mrs. Danvers' actions were a relentless effort to maintain Rebecca's haunting presence at Manderley and to psychologically dismantle anyone who threatened that memory, particularly the innocent new Mrs. de Winter and her marriage to Maxim.
