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Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier, encompasses Gothic elements, but it primarily conforms to the romance genre.

How Rebecca Supports the Romance Genre

Love Triangle:

Throughout the book, the girl is incapable of stepping out of Rebecca's shadow; Rebecca's beauty, grace and, most importantly, Maxim's love seemed to elude her. Her own lack of individuality and initiative not only allows Rebecca's spiritual presence to plague her, but also to continue to reign as the real Mrs. de Winter. "The thought that Maxim would never love me because of Rebecca" arouses jealousy and helplessness, an aspect that appeals strongly to the romance genre.

Love and Heartbreak:

These are the fundamentals of the romance genre and are a dominant factor in the romance between Maxim and the girl. The girl's love is unconditional, even during times when Maxim displayed no affection or interest in her. The undying memory of Rebecca again causes much heartbreak for the girl when faced with her marriage failure.' She mourns, I had gone into this marriage, imagining I would bring happiness to Maxim, who had known much greater happiness before.' The author emphasizes strongly on the girl's agony and loneliness, in obvious support for the romance conventions. The novel's romantic qualities are revealed when Maxim professes his true love for the girl near the climax of the book, releasing her from Rebecca's domination once and for all.

Misunderstandings and Obstacles:

Like all romances, the journey to true love and happiness is a long and hard one, Rebecca being no exception. The misunderstanding that incriminated the girl was the costume she innocently chose for the party, triggering off an estrangement between the couple. For the first four months of her marriage, the girl thinks under the misconception that Maxim is still in love with Rebecca, and this in turn, lowers her self-confidence as the mistress of Manderley.

The main obstacle is, of course, Rebecca: 'Her damned shadow keeping us from one another.' Her living accomplice, Mrs. Danvers fuels her hatred for the woman who is trying to take Rebecca's place, by doing all in her power to tear the couple apart. However, like all romances, overcoming these misunderstandings and obstacles does not extinguish their love, only strengthens their relationship.

Sacrifices:

A typical convention of the romance genre is the sacrifices lovers make to be with each other, forsaking everything of importance to them before. The girl in Rebecca prepares to make

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