[Abstract] Suspense is an important element of writing. Its special feature, as the English dramatist, William Archill said, “to predict a very attractive state of affairs without telling it out.” On suspense’s forming, the English critic, David Lodge has incisive recapitulation,” To set forth a question and postpone the answer.” To be exactly, that is, to stress a main, unusual situation. And there is enough time and space left for readers to imagine.
Daphne du Maurier brings skill of suspense into full play in her most famous novel Rebecca it; she sets forth a series of suspense, including both full-text suspense and partial suspense. Moreover, smaller suspense have mutual relations in or among each level. This kind of arrangement not only because the motive force which helps the plots develop but also draw readers to read and guess what is in the next step.
This article expounds the special skill using a series of suspense in Rebecca and its artistic effects. And then，the novel’s design..
[Key Words] Rebecca; suspense; Manderley; implications.
【摘 要】 懸念是一種獨特的文學結構形式,其重要特徵,用英國戲劇理論家威廉·阿契爾的話說,就是“預示出一種十分吸引人的事態,卻不把它預敘出來.”對於懸念的形成,英國當代小說批評家戴維·洛奇曾作過精闢的概括,即“提出問題，延緩提供答案”.具體而言,就是突出不同尋常的情境並延緩批露底細,使其呈明顯的懸而未決的狀態.
達夫妮·杜穆裡埃在《蝴蝶夢》(原名《呂蓓卡》)中充分發揮懸念這一獨特的文學結構形式的優勢,設定了一系列懸念,這些懸念不僅成為推動故事情節發展的內在動力,而且極大地刺激讀者的閱讀興趣,給讀者帶來了獨特的審美感覺.本文從結構上探討作品別具匠心的懸念藝術,以助於更好的欣賞作品中的懸念。此外，從創作手法的角度剖析了文中一系列懸念手法產生的.非同一般的藝術效果，指出這種手法在全文篇章結構中的重要作用。
【關鍵詞】《呂蓓卡》;懸念；曼陀麗；暗示
1. Introduction
The English female writer, Daphne du Marrie had been a member of the Royal Society of Literature. She had written 17 novels and tried more than 20 kinds of styles in literatures writing, Daphne lived in Cornwall, a country on the Atlantic coast, North England, for a long time. Most of her works set background in the local conditions and customs. As a result, “Cornwall Novel” is given as a name for her works.
Being deeply influenced by Gothic Novel, which is famous for its mystery, curiousness and terror, Daphne wrote her works with plots full of twists and turning.
Any one who has read Rebecca, the most famous novel written by Daphne, will never forget those dismal and constrained scenes and horrible imaginations. However, the specific feature of this novel is its using lots of suspense carried through the whole story. This has made its plots intricate but well-knit and soul stirring.
Add to this, Alfred Hitchcock filmed Rebecca in 20th century, considered as one of the well-known suspense films.
Suspense is an important skill of writing. It is also an singular design of literature writing. Its special feature, as the English dramatist, William Archill said,“ …to predict a very attractive state of affairs without telling it out.” [6]
Usually, it sets forth a question and postpones the answer. To be more exactly, that is, to stress a main, unusual situation. And there is enough time and space left. The reason of causing the situation doesn’t appear at once.
In this novel, Rebecca, there are 3 levels of suspense.
In the opening sentences of the book, Manderley is noticed. The lines of describing the heroine’s dream are full of misgivings and mystic.
“As I stood there, hushed and still, I could swear that the house was not an empty shell but lived and breathed as it had lived before.”[4](P7)
“A cloud, hitherto unseen, came upon the moon, and hovered an instant like a dark hand before a face.”[4](P7)
“The house was a sepulcher, our fear and suffering lay buried in the ruins. There would be no resurrection. When I thought of Manderley in my waking hours. I would not be bitter.”[4](P7)
Then “I” come to the reality from dream. “I” am thinking about Manderley and all happened in it that cannot hurt. These words have put forward the first suspense, that is, what a story happened in such a ruined, barren garden? Who is “I”? It catches readers’ eyes at once. Therefore, they are hastened to go further into the story, into the story about my life experience in Manderley.
first level of suspense: Rebecca is a good wife with brains, beauty, and breeding?!
2.1Phoney
This is the main suspense, which goes through the whole story. In the story, the heroine and readers are mentioned time to time that Rebecca is a good wife who is beloved by Maxim.
“Mrs. Van Hopper said’, He looks ill, doesn’t he? They say he can’t get over his wife’s death…”[4](P15)