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To add to my above post: I think the second wife was far more dazzled by Maxim's grand name and house, rather than by any thought of getting money out of him for gowns, jewels, cars, and so on.
Plus, during his marriage proposal to her, she also did have moments of doubt and hesitation. To her credit.
That's why I wouldn't exactly call her a gold-digger.
I smell genteel poverty with few options who was overwhelmed by the charms of a sophisticated older man.
I think if she had been a genuine gold-digger with a cynical view of marriage and her eye on his bank account she would have handled the whole situation much more efficiently and would have got rid of the scheming Mrs Danvers in the blink of an eye.
Also, if she'd been a real gold-digger, Maxim would have known it, right away. He'd have sensed it, and given her the cold shoulder. As you've mentioned, he was worldly. Besides, he was very eligible. Over the years, especially after Rebecca was no longer there, quite a few women would have tried to attract Maxim. Some of them would have had his money as their number one motive. So he must have learnt to spot a gold-digger from a mile off. Spot and avoid them. The second wife must have been such a refreshing change for him. Perhaps Maxim also hoped that being with such a guileless person would soon refill his own depleted innocence.
But, although there was no harm or malice in her, I still believe that the second wife would not have married Maxim if he hadn't been a rich man.
For instance, surely there must have been quite a lot of "working-class" men employed at that big hotel in Monte Carlo. What if one of those "poor" men had asked the second wife-to-be to go out with him? On a date. Even just for a walk or a bus ride. Would she have agreed? No. No matter how much care and attention he lavished on her. Nor would she have fallen in love with him. That's one of the things I find troubling. At the same time, I realize the difficult situation she was in, before her marriage, and my heart goes out to her.
Actually, there is no indication that any women were throwing themselves at Maxim. Rebecca had been dead less than a year when he married his new bride, a point made several times in the book. Although I agree that if he hadn't married, he would have had many options. But he hadn't had a lot of time to entertain other women. Rather, I think the second wife was the antithesis of Rebecca--not other women.
In my post above, I've written: Over the years, especially after Rebecca was no longer there, quite a few women would have tried to attract Maxim. "Would have" - that is, I imagined, I pictured them trying to do so.
What with Maxim's looks and wealth, one can picture a few women trying their luck with him. Regardless of his marital status. They'd have tried to have a fling with him.
Either during the years of his marriage to Rebecca. Or later - when he was a widower for a while - in the one year interval between Rebecca's death and his second marriage.
So, how would Maxim have reacted to any glamorous would-be mistress? I believe that he'd have spurned each and every one of them. He'd have kept his distance from them all.
Why? Because of his harrowing memories of Rebecca. The suffering she put him through. I think he'd have lost his trust in captivating, sophisticated women. Because they'd remind him of Rebecca - her deception - her betrayal.
What if, during his first marriage, there'd been would-be mistresses? Then, those women might have noticed signs. Hints that there was something wrong in his relationship with Rebecca. How could they have seen these signs? Through Maxim.
From the book, we know that Rebecca was extremely skilful, in public, at feigning that their marriage was loving, wonderful, perfect. But, what about Maxim? I don't feel at all that he'd have been as practised, as adept at putting on such a masquerade. Such an outright deception regarding his marriage.
Even though, for his own reasons, he co-operated with Rebecca, what was Maxim's true feeling about her? Loathing. He hated her. Every minute of every day.
Thus, no matter how he tried, I don't think he could have kept up the pretence, in public, of loving her. Not constantly. Especially not at crowded get-togethers. Where he must have felt even more stressed. From watching her interactions with men. Regardless of how outwardly proper her behaviour was. And wondering just what her true relationship with each man had been... or was going to be...
Therefore, his hatred for her would have shown. Would have been revealed. Sometimes. Perhaps often. Even for just a moment. On his face. Or in a word. Or in a gesture. Often unconsciously - without his being aware of it. Or by an error made in haste. His mask would have slipped. At least a few times. At parties and so on.
Which is why I'd say that some women, at social events, studying Maxim in the hope of having an extramarital affair with him, would sooner or later have observed his hatred for Rebecca.
I didnt see any golddigger in her personality, and it was told through her viewpoint
Happy New Year, everyone! B612! For more on the latter, you’re all most welcome to visit http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/7...
I don't think she was a golddigger. She was an orphan who was desperate for connection. I'm still on Team Shouldn't Have Married Him in the First Place.
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To add to my above post: I think the second wife was far more dazzled by Maxim's grand name and house, rather than by any thought of getting money out of him for gowns, jewels, cars, and so on.Plus, during his marriage proposal to her, she also did have moments of doubt and hesitation. To her credit.
That's why I wouldn't exactly call her a gold-digger.
I smell genteel poverty with few options who was overwhelmed by the charms of a sophisticated older man.I think if she had been a genuine gold-digger with a cynical view of marriage and her eye on his bank account she would have handled the whole situation much more efficiently and would have got rid of the scheming Mrs Danvers in the blink of an eye.
Also, if she'd been a real gold-digger, Maxim would have known it, right away. He'd have sensed it, and given her the cold shoulder. As you've mentioned, he was worldly. Besides, he was very eligible. Over the years, especially after Rebecca was no longer there, quite a few women would have tried to attract Maxim. Some of them would have had his money as their number one motive. So he must have learnt to spot a gold-digger from a mile off. Spot and avoid them. The second wife must have been such a refreshing change for him. Perhaps Maxim also hoped that being with such a guileless person would soon refill his own depleted innocence.But, although there was no harm or malice in her, I still believe that the second wife would not have married Maxim if he hadn't been a rich man.
For instance, surely there must have been quite a lot of "working-class" men employed at that big hotel in Monte Carlo. What if one of those "poor" men had asked the second wife-to-be to go out with him? On a date. Even just for a walk or a bus ride. Would she have agreed? No. No matter how much care and attention he lavished on her. Nor would she have fallen in love with him. That's one of the things I find troubling. At the same time, I realize the difficult situation she was in, before her marriage, and my heart goes out to her.
Actually, there is no indication that any women were throwing themselves at Maxim. Rebecca had been dead less than a year when he married his new bride, a point made several times in the book. Although I agree that if he hadn't married, he would have had many options. But he hadn't had a lot of time to entertain other women. Rather, I think the second wife was the antithesis of Rebecca--not other women.
In my post above, I've written: Over the years, especially after Rebecca was no longer there, quite a few women would have tried to attract Maxim. "Would have" - that is, I imagined, I pictured them trying to do so.What with Maxim's looks and wealth, one can picture a few women trying their luck with him. Regardless of his marital status. They'd have tried to have a fling with him.
Either during the years of his marriage to Rebecca. Or later - when he was a widower for a while - in the one year interval between Rebecca's death and his second marriage.
So, how would Maxim have reacted to any glamorous would-be mistress? I believe that he'd have spurned each and every one of them. He'd have kept his distance from them all.
Why? Because of his harrowing memories of Rebecca. The suffering she put him through. I think he'd have lost his trust in captivating, sophisticated women. Because they'd remind him of Rebecca - her deception - her betrayal.
What if, during his first marriage, there'd been would-be mistresses? Then, those women might have noticed signs. Hints that there was something wrong in his relationship with Rebecca. How could they have seen these signs? Through Maxim.From the book, we know that Rebecca was extremely skilful, in public, at feigning that their marriage was loving, wonderful, perfect. But, what about Maxim? I don't feel at all that he'd have been as practised, as adept at putting on such a masquerade. Such an outright deception regarding his marriage.
Even though, for his own reasons, he co-operated with Rebecca, what was Maxim's true feeling about her? Loathing. He hated her. Every minute of every day.
Thus, no matter how he tried, I don't think he could have kept up the pretence, in public, of loving her. Not constantly. Especially not at crowded get-togethers. Where he must have felt even more stressed. From watching her interactions with men. Regardless of how outwardly proper her behaviour was. And wondering just what her true relationship with each man had been... or was going to be...
Therefore, his hatred for her would have shown. Would have been revealed. Sometimes. Perhaps often. Even for just a moment. On his face. Or in a word. Or in a gesture. Often unconsciously - without his being aware of it. Or by an error made in haste. His mask would have slipped. At least a few times. At parties and so on.
Which is why I'd say that some women, at social events, studying Maxim in the hope of having an extramarital affair with him, would sooner or later have observed his hatred for Rebecca.
I didnt see any golddigger in her personality, and it was told through her viewpoint
Happy New Year, everyone! B612! For more on the latter, you’re all most welcome to visit http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/7...
I don't think she was a golddigger. She was an orphan who was desperate for connection. I'm still on Team Shouldn't Have Married Him in the First Place.
Still, I wouldn't exactly call her a gold-digger. But the book does make it clear that Maxim's wealth, and his ownership of Manderley, were important factors in her acceptance of his proposal.
" 'But we won't stay too long, because I want to show you Manderley.'
He wanted to show me Manderley ... And suddenly I realized that it would all happen; I would be his wife,..."
"He wanted to show me Manderley... My mind ran riot then, figures came before me and picture after picture..."
"I am going to be Mrs de Winter. I am going to live at Manderley. Manderley will belong to me."
In addition, more than once, at various moments during her reaction to the proposal, she tells herself:
"Mrs de Winter. I would be Mrs de Winter."
If Maxim had not been a rich man, would she have married him? No. Not at all.
That's one of the reasons I've got mixed feelings about the second wife. I think she did have quite a lot of genuine innocence; her fragility, her vulnerability wrenches the heart, and most of the time, she has my sympathy. But, not always.