Mrs. Danvers

[Havanah]

Someone posted on my subs about Mrs. Danvers - basically saying she was not at all nasty. I could find the exact comment but yeah, too lazy!

Anyway, although I disagree, it did get me thinking and the more I think the more I really pity Mrs. Danvers.

Right now I'm subbing the Mrs. de Winter bin ich bit. Ich really enjoys tormenting Mrs. Danvers and you can't help but feel sorry for her. However, did she get driven to it... if someone had been tormenting you for ages, nearly driving you to suicide, wouldn't you enjoy making them squirm just a little? I guess that's more about the character of Ich really.

Also, the main argument that was made in this comment was that Rebecca was murders and Ich and Maxim are covering it up therefore Mrs. Danvers is not nasty. However, she doesn't know this yet she still makes Ich's life hell.

I conclusion, I think Mrs. Danvers is more mentally unstable and pitiable than nasty although I don't think this makes her any more likable.

So what do you think?

[Deleted]

I think you have some good points here.
I feel sorry for Danvers. She did lose Rebecca who was so important to her.
I don't really think Ich exactly enjoys tormenting Danvers. I think she's finally coming into her own, standing strong against someone who made her life hell. I really understand why she might act a little nasty towards Danvers, it really comes from her own new-found strengt. You made my life hell, but I am not going to live like that anymore. I refuse to dance to your tune. Now I am in charge.
I understand Danvers and I can feel sympathy for her, but that does not excuse the way she treats Ich. She's real nasty piece óf work when she wants to be, and a hard woman to deal with unless you have got courage and strength.

[Havanah]

Just out of interest, have you seen the musical scene of Mrs. de Winter bin ich? I'm just interested as to whether we're thinking about the same thing there or whether one of us is talking about the book! I think the Ich of the book is a lot more someone who's discovering who she is and her own power whereas in the musical it feels so much more like she's getting her own back in the second half of the song (to me, that is!)

[Deleted]

Okay, it's been a while since I read the book, so maybe I am getting things mixed up here. I actually don't remember when she stands up to Danvers in the book, but as far as I recall it's not at the same point in the story as in the musical.
I agree that Ich in the book is discovering who she is, whereas the musical Ich is about developing into a stronger and more confident person.

[Havanah]

I was talking totally about the musical anyway. Just worth checking we were both actually discussing the same thing!