In the novel Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, the character of Mrs. Danvers is presented as a complement to the narrator: a character who provides a contrast to the narrator in per highlight its qualities. Mrs. Danvers is Mannerly's housekeeper and has cared for the title character, Rebecca, since Rebecca's youth; she then moved to Manderley after her marriage to Maxim de Winter. Mrs. Danvers was devoted to Rebecca and despises the narrator because she does not want her to replace Rebecca. This is why he takes great pleasure in undermining the narrator and making her feel inferior to Rebecca. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayOne of the most obvious contrasts between Mrs. Danvers and the narrator is their physical appearance. When the narrator first lays eyes on Mrs Danvers upon her arrival at Manderley, she describes her as: "Tall and thin, dressed in deep black, whose prominent cheekbones and large deep-set eyes gave her a skull-like, white face like parchment, placed on the frame of a skeleton.' By pointing to the face of her skull and comparing it to a skeleton, things that are associated with death and decay, it makes the reader believe that Mrs. Danvers is someone to be afraid of. It is as if she is so attached to Rebecca that she dies with her ; the only time she really seems to come to life is when she reminds the narrator of Rebecca. In contrast, the narrator is young and naive, not very experienced in the world I see... hair cropped and face young and disempowered... like a shy, restless colt." She also later states "how young and inexperienced I must have looked." There are also notable contrasts between Mrs. Danvers's personality and that of the narrator. Mrs. Danvers is very domineering and her manipulative and cunning behavior first came to light when she suggests that the narrator dress up as Caroline de Winter for the infamous masquerade ball. She knows that by doing so she will humiliate the narrator, because it is the same costume That the late Rebecca wore to the last masquerade ball. Despite having no reason to trust Mrs. Danvers following her previous hostile behavior towards him, the narrator agrees to don the costume, believing it will gain her approval. This shows how the narrator is insecure and self-conscious because she doesn't even question Mrs. Danvers' motives since she is so desperate to please her. Despite this, Mrs. Danvers and the narrator have some things in common. For example, they are both very loyal characters: Mrs. Danvers has her devotion to Rebecca and the narrator is committed to Mr. de Winter. Mrs. Danvers often speaks of Rebecca fondly, despite knowing her perversely mischievous and cruel nature. Through her actions, Mrs. Danvers could also be seen as playing the role of Rebecca after her death. This unconditional devotion that Mrs. Danvers has for Rebecca is similar to the narrator's devotion to Maxim, even after she discovers the truth that he killed the former Mrs. de Winter. He vows to "fight for Maxim", would "lie, perjure and swear" for him. This shows how the characters of Mrs. Danvers and the narrator are similar: they are quite selfless and would do almost anything for the people they love. Although Mrs. Danvers is a good representation of an obstacle for the narrator, a better example of an obstacle for the narrator is Rebecca. As Maxim's wives, both of these characters are constantly compared to each other. At the beginning of the novel, the narrator does.