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The Heroine
The novel's protagonist and narrator; we never learn her given name. A shy, self-conscious young woman from a lower-middle class background, she begins the novel as a paid companion to Mrs. Van Hopper, a wealthy American woman. In Monte Carlo, she meets and marries the older, wealthy Maxim de Winter, and becomes "Mrs. De Winter," mistress of Manderley.
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Maxim de Winter
A cultured, intelligent older man, and the owner of Manderley, a prized estate and mansion on the English coast. When the novel begins, he has recently lost his beautiful, accomplished wife, Rebecca, in what the world believes was a tragic drowning. In fact, however, he killed her himself.
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Rebecca
In life, Rebecca was the beautiful, much-loved, accomplished wife of Maxim de Winter, and the mistress of Manderley. Now a ghost, she haunts the mansion, and her presence torments the heroine after her marriage to Maxim.
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Mrs. Danvers
The sinister housekeeper at Manderley. She was fiercely devoted to Rebecca, and remains devoted to her even after death. She despises the heroine for taking her mistress's place.
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Jack Favell
Rebecca's cousin. Lacking integrity and given to alcoholic behavior, he was Rebecca's lover while she was married to Maxim.
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Frank Crawley
Maxim's kind, loyal overseer at Manderley, he befriends the heroine almost immediately.
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Beatrice
Maxim's sister. A friendly, outgoing woman with a passion for horses.
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Mrs. Van Hopper
A vulgar, gossipy and wealthy American woman. She employs the heroine as a companion while she travels from one European resort town to another.
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Ben
A harmless man, mildly retarded, who spends much of his time on the beach near Manderley.
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Colonel Julyan
The local magistrate in the region surrounding Manderley
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Lady Crowan
A local noblewoman who suggests that Maxim and the heroine revive the tradition of holding an annual costume ball at Manderley.
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Baker
A London doctor who saw Rebecca the day of her death
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Frith
The butler at Manderley
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Clarice
The heroine's maid
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Jasper
One of Maxim's pet spaniels, and the heroine's favorite
Popular pages: Rebecca
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