Rebecca Daphne Du Maurier

Principal characters

• The Narrator/the Second Mrs de Winter: A timid, naïve, middle-class woman in her early twenties, who enjoys sketching. Neither the narrator's first nor maiden name is revealed. She is referred to as "my wife", "Mrs de Winter", "my dear", and so on. The one time she is introduced with a name is during a fancy dress ball, in which she dresses as a de Winter ancestor and is introduced as "Caroline de Winter", although this is clearly not her own name. She signs her name as "Mrs M. de Winter", using Maxim's initial. Early in the novel she receives a letter and remarks that her name was correctly spelled, which is "an unusual thing," suggesting her name is uncommon, foreign or complex. While courting her, Maxim compliments her on her "lovely and unusual name". Despite her timidity, she gradually matures throughout the novel, refusing to be a victim of Rebecca's phantom-like influence any longer and becoming a strong, assertive woman in her own right.
• Maximilian "Maxim" de Winter: The reserved, unemotional owner of Manderley. He marries his new wife after a brief courtship, yet displays little affection toward her after the marriage. Emotionally scarred by his traumatic marriage to Rebecca, his distance toward his new wife causes her to fear he regrets his marriage to her and is still haunted by Rebecca's death. Maxim killed Rebecca after she told him that she was carrying her lover's child, that he would have to raise as his own. He does eventually reveal to his new wife that he never loved Rebecca, but not until several months of marriage have passed. In the 1940 film adaptation, his full name is George Fortescue Maximilian de Winter.
• Mrs Danvers: The cold, overbearing housekeeper of Manderley. Danvers was Rebecca's family maid when she was a child and has lived with her for years. She is unhealthily obsessed with Rebecca and preserving Rebecca's memory. She resents the new Mrs de Winter, convinced she is trying to "take Rebecca's place". She tries to undermine the new Mrs de Winter, but her efforts fail. After her scheme is ruined, Mrs Danvers apparently burns Manderley to the ground, preferring to destroy it than allow Maxim to share his home with another lover and wife. She is nicknamed Danny which is derived from her last name; her first name being unknown or unimportant, but in Sally Beauman's sequel Rebecca's Tale it was said to be Edith.
• Rebecca de Winter: The unseen, deceased title character, who has been dead for less than a year. A famous beauty, and on the surface a devoted wife and perfect hostess, Rebecca was actually unfaithful to her husband Maxim. Her lingering presence overwhelms Manderley, dominating the visitors, the staff and the new Mrs de Winter. Through dialogue, it is slowly revealed that Rebecca possessed the signs of a psychopath: habitual lying, superficial charm, expert manipulation, no conscience and no remorse. She was also revealed to be somewhat sadistic—Danvers tells a story of Rebecca, during her teenage years, cruelly whipping a horse until it bled.

Minor characters

• Frank Crawley: The hard-working, dutiful agent of Manderley. Reserved and conventional, he is Maxim's trusted advisor and confidant. He soon becomes a good friend to the second Mrs de Winter, helping her to overcome her self-doubt and shyness.
• Beatrice Lacey (formerly de Winter): Maxim's spirited, hearty-mannered and shrewd sister. She feels an immediate fondness for the new Mrs de Winter. She, along with her brother, is one of the few people who knew Rebecca's true, vile nature: her husband, Giles, had been one of her victims when she blatantly attempted to seduce him.
• Giles Lacey: The amiable but slightly slow-witted husband of Beatrice, and Maxim's brother-in-law. He was one of the many men who fell for Rebecca's charms.
• Frith: The middle-aged, kind and devoted butler at Manderley. He has worked for the de Winters since Maxim was a boy.
• Robert: A young footman, still somewhat callow. Favell cruelly boasted of how he embarrassed Robert by taking him to the local pub and goading him to get drunk and flirt.
• Mrs Van Hopper: The narrator's American employer at the beginning of the novel. Brassy, overbearing, shallow and impetuous, she establishes herself at fashionable resort hotels, relentlessly pursuing wealthy and famous guests, hoping to latch on to their fame and boost her status through association.
• Clarice: Mrs de Winter's inexperienced but loyal and trustworthy lady's maid
• Jack Favell: A heavy-drinking, underhand, and somewhat spiv-like man, he is first cousin of the late Rebecca de Winter, and was also her lover. Growing up together they share traits and tastes (suggesting that mental and emotional instability may run in their family). He is strongly disliked and distrusted by Maxim, Beatrice and Frank. Since Rebecca's untimely demise, his one and only true friend and confidante is Mrs Danvers, whom he calls "Danny", just as Rebecca had done.
• Colonel Julyan: The local magistrate, and chair of the Inquest into the true cause of Rebecca's death.
• Dr Baker: Harley Street specialist in gynaecology. The day before her death, Rebecca consulted him in secret, when he diagnosed that she had terminal cancer.