'Rebecca' Ending Explained: Why did Mrs Danvers kill herself after burning Manderley down?
Netflix's adaptation of 'Rebecca', starring Lily James and Armie Hammer is here, and it's not a completely truthful adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's gothic novel. For the most part it is — the nervous and unnamed protagonist (James) falls in love with the seemingly cold and distant Maxim de Winter (Armie Hammer) who has a troubled past. He lost his wife, Rebecca, just a few months ago. Rebecca is supposedly the epitome of perfection, as described by everyone: She was charming, witty, charismatic, beautiful and a gracious hostess. At the start of the story, we're told that she was drowned at sea, and Maxim has never recovered from the loss.
The protagonist marries Maxim and he takes her to his palatial mansion, Manderley, where she meets the rather sinister housekeeper Mrs Danvers, who doesn't like her presence in the house, as she feels that the new bride is trying to take Rebecca's place. Throughout the film, Mrs Danvers keeps referring to Rebecca and the power she exuded over the household. She shows her Rebecca's items, including the handkerchief and brush. Even Maxim's grandmother says that the new Mrs de Winter is not Maxim's wife and nothing like Rebecca. Rebecca's presence looms over the household, leading to the protagonist's insecurities getting the better of her. Things reach a climax when she unknowingly dresses up as Rebecca for the Manderley Ball, leaving Maxim irate.
However, the story takes a turn as a body is discovered at the sea, and it is Rebecca, as it's her boat. The suspicion falls on Maxim as he had identified her body months ago, supposedly. Maxim reveals the truth to his wife: Rebecca was a 'vile' and superficial woman, who was having affairs with different people. She had 'done unspeakable' things, and on her last night alive, she had told Maxim she was pregnant with her cousin Jack Favell's child. Maxim shot her, and buried her at sea. An inquest is raised, and the new Mrs de Winter saves Maxim on a technicality — as Rebecca's doctor says that she was already dying from cancer, and that she wasn't pregnant. Rebecca did not want a lingering death and had goaded Maxim into killing her.
A livid Mrs Danvers sets fire to Manderley, as she says the house belonged to her and Rebecca. She runs out of the house, and the protagonist follows her. Before she jumps to her death, Mrs Danvers says that no one else can have the house but Rebecca. She jumps into the sea. She killed herself to reunite with Rebecca, as she had been fond of her since she was a child. This part is not there in the book, as it just ends with flames bellowing from Manderley, and it is left to be believed that Mrs Danvers burnt the house. So basically, Mrs Danvers' suicide in the film is there because the filmmakers decided it should be there.
'Rebecca' is streaming on Netflix.