Final answer:
The second Mrs. De Winter in the novel 'Rebecca' feels pressured to live up to the societal expectations at Manderley and to fill the shoes of her predecessor, Rebecca, to make her husband Maxim happy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The character referred to as the second Mrs. De Winter is from Daphne du Maurier's 1938 novel Rebecca, where she feels immense pressure to live up to the expectations set by her predecessor, the first Mrs. De Winter. In the novel, the unnamed protagonist marries a wealthy widower, Maxim de Winter, and upon arriving at his estate, Manderley, she finds herself overshadowed by the memory of his first wife, Rebecca, who had died under mysterious circumstances.
The second Mrs. De Winter perceives that everyone, including the intimidating housekeeper Mrs. Danvers, is comparing her unfavorably to Rebecca. She believes she must adapt to the grand life of Manderley and the societal expectations that come with it to make Maxim happy. This includes hosting extravagant parties, maintaining the estate, and managing social relationships that were once Rebecca’s domain. The protagonist’s struggles with self-identity, confidence, and the overwhelming pressure to fit in are major themes of the novel, as she attempts to carve out her own place within an environment that constantly reminds her of her supposed inadequacy.
Despite her efforts, she never feels that she can truly measure up to the image of Rebecca, which haunts her perception of happiness and fulfillment in the marriage.