-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Jack Favell
Rebecca's cousin. Lacking integrity and given to alcoholic behavior, he was Rebecca's lover while she was married to Maxim.
-
Frank Crawley
Maxim's kind, loyal overseer at Manderley, he befriends the heroine almost immediately.
-
Beatrice
Maxim's sister. A friendly, outgoing woman with a passion for horses.
-
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.
-
Ben
Ben: A harmless, intellectually disabled man who spends much of his time on the beach near Manderley.
-
Colonel Julyan
The local magistrate in the region surrounding Manderley
-
Lady Crowan
A local noblewoman who suggests that Maxim and the heroine revive the tradition of holding an annual costume ball at Manderley.
-
Baker
A London doctor who saw Rebecca the day of her death
-
Frith
The butler at Manderley
-
Clarice
The heroine's maid
-
Jasper
One of Maxim's pet spaniels, and the heroine's favorite
Popular pages: Rebecca
Take a Study Break
-
Every Shakespeare Play Summed Up in a Quote from The Office
-
Every Book on Your English Syllabus, Summed Up in Marvel Quotes
-
A Roundup of the Funniest Great Gatsby Memes You'll Ever See
-
QUIZ: How Many of These Literary Jeopardy! Questions Can You Answer Correctly?
-
7 "Crazy" Women in Literature Who Were Actually Being Totally Reasonable
-
Honest Names for All the Books on Your English Syllabus
-
QUIZ: Are You a Hero, a Villain, or an Anti-Hero?