Penny answers “Does anyone else have a negative...”

Ellen Killian asked this question about Rebecca:

Does anyone else have a negative impression of Maxim? I would like to discuss the idea that Maxim is as much of a psychopath as is Rebecca and that we only have his version of events and characters. Rebecca cannot defend herself

Penny I think Maxim was a man of his time who would never expect a woman to be a sexual predator as Rebecca was. (And there are clues in OTHER people's desc…moreI think Maxim was a man of his time who would never expect a woman to be a sexual predator as Rebecca was. (And there are clues in OTHER people's descriptions that suggest Rebecca was hardly the perfect wife.) maxim does expect to be able to guide and chastise women, but that does not make him a psychopath. Given her narcisistic dual nature, I would slap that label on Rebecca more quickly than I would on Maxim. Then again, though, men have behaved for centuries as Rebecca behaved during their marriage--no explanation to the betrayed spouse necessary (referring to the scene at Monte a few days after the marriage, in which Maxim describes how Rebecca stated her intention never to be faithful to him). (less)

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