Oct 20, 2004 05:31 PM
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(Updated Oct 20, 2004 05:31 PM)
Who is Rebecca ?
That popular and muscular football champion in your school ? That beautiful woman who dazzles everyone and leaves you in the shade ? That overconfident colleague who is the boss? pet ? Do you know anyone who always manages to outshine you ? H/she is very good-looking, overconfident, amazingly intelligent, well organized, considerate and immensely popular. People flock around that person and sing praises. You stand on one side as no one gives you a second glance. You suffer in silence and feel something hurting you badly. That ?something? is jealousy.
How easily does the ?self? suffer when we compare it with others. How easily we presume that we are the second best. How easily we give up on ourselves and stand in awe of somebody or something which cannot be ours. We lead our lives, comparing, comparing and comparing ourselves, our faces, our bodies, our jobs, our friends, our car, our children, our spouses with everyone and everything else. We punish ourselves day and night and then we wonder why we are not happy.
Jealousy is a good thing because it helps us want to accomplish what we do not have. It makes us strive for a greater dream, a bigger goal. That is if we can direct our jealousy to take a positive action and seek improvements in ourselves. But if we just let jealousy make us bitter, angry and hurt and we do nothing about it- then jealousy can almost kill us.
The new, shy bride of Maxim de Winter enters the huge Manderley scarcely an year after the first wife, Rebecca has died. Then begins her conflicts within herself as she has to face the constant comparisons with the stunning, beautiful, popular Rebecca. She sees Rebecca?s wonderful touch everywhere, in the house, the gardens and the estate. Rebecca may be dead but she lives on in her fears and anxieties. Then one day Rebecca?s body is found in a drowned boat. And the truth about Rebecca?s death is revealed in the most shocking and bizarre details.
Rebecca is more than just a book. It?s your fears and your apprehensions which overpower you when your self dissolves in the presence of some dazzling and seemingly unattainable goal. It?s the feeling of unworthiness that dogs you and threatens to reduce your life and achievements to nothing.
The flow of the book is terrific. It keeps you involved throughout and it has its share of chills and thrills. The end is shocking and will have you asking for more. It will also make you think of all the Rebeccas in your life.
P.S. This movie was adapted for an old-time classic called ?Kohra? which starred Waheeda Rehman and Biswajit. Remember ?Raah bani khud Manzil?, ?Ye nayan dare dare?, ?O bakaraar dil? and ?Jhoom jhoom chalti raat?. Yep, that?s the one.
