[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】 悬念是一种独特的文学结构形式,其重要特征,用英国戏剧理论家威廉·阿契尔的话说,就是“预示出一种十分吸引人的事态,却不把它预叙出来.”对于悬念的形成,英国当代小说批评家戴维·洛奇曾作过精辟的概括,即“提出问题，延缓提供答案”.具体而言,就是突出不同寻常的情境并延缓批露底细,使其呈明显的悬而未决的状态.
达夫妮·杜穆里埃在《蝴蝶梦》(原名《吕蓓卡》)中充分发挥悬念这一独特的文学结构形式的优势,设置了一系列悬念,这些悬念不仅成为推动故事情节发展的内在动力,而且极大地刺激读者的阅读兴趣,给读者带来了独特的审美感觉.本文从结构上探讨作品别具匠心的悬念艺术,以助于更好的欣赏作品中的悬念。此外，从创作手法的角度剖析了文中一系列悬念手法产生的.非同一般的艺术效果，指出这种手法在全文篇章结构中的重要作用。
【关键词】《吕蓓卡》;悬念；曼陀丽；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)
