Someone help me with the ending to My Cousin Rachel! Question in comments so as not to spoil it for anybody. I need an explanation
Someone help me with the ending to My Cousin Rachel! Question in comments so as not to spoil it for anybody. I need an explanation
What is the deal? Is Philip a paranoid schizophrenic? Is Rachel innocent or just really good at covering her tracks? It seems like Philip has a lot that’s questionable about him. Two main things being the incident when he choked Rachel and was surprised the next morning when she was upset about it. The second tip off being feeling like he’s Ambrose from time to time.
I change my mind about Rachel every single time I read this book. First time I thought she was guilty, the second time I read the book I thought she was innocent and the third time I read the book… Well I haven’t read it three times yet!
We discussed this book for our book group several years ago. Bottom line is how reliable of a narrator is Philip?
And didn’t Ambrose have a brain tumor? Did Philip inherit that malady?
The book is so good with so many twists and turns and I love the ambiguous ending!!!
I don’t trust Philip ? He seemed so normal at first, but you don’t just go around choking people and think it’ll be perfectly fine lol Plus you also have to wonder that since the revelation that she didn’t love him back the same way, and because of his jealousy, did he feel the need to make an excuse to kill her? He still felt compassion for her. Was it compassion because he was going to let her die?
But the way he starts and ends it with “they used to hang people at four turnings, not anymore though” -what’s the meaning behind that?
I think it could mean that he has been arrested for Rachel‘s death and he is awaiting his sentence Of death by hanging. Or it could be a metaphor for his guilt that he feels for her death. Again we are seeing everything through Phillips eyes and how reliable is he?
How different is the movie from the book?
If you’re talking about the most recent film… It has a very interesting twist at the end. Don’t want to blow it for you if you haven’t seen it. Our book group saw the film after we discussed the book and we all have opinions about the ending. It was actually kind of hilarious after the credits rolled we all turned to reach other… I think there is about seven or eight of us and started talking. A total stranger who have been sitting several rows behind us came over and joined in the conversation!
@Lynne is it similar to the book in most respects?
@Crystal , Yes. I thought it was a pretty good adaptation. It’s been a while since I’ve seen it but I do remember really liking the leads and the cinematography is gorgeous! There is an older film with Olivia De Haviland and Richard Burton that I’ve never seen. I’ve heard that one is good as well.
I can’t remember the name of the character but it’s the lawyer and his daughter. I think those are the characters in the book that are sane. I remember the second time reading the book taking my cues off of their reactions regarding Phillips obsession with Rachel.
Lynne Marcus
They’ve shown the older edition on Boston TV several.times. I remember at the end Rachael fell through what looked like a rotten bridge and died.
Olivia was an excellent actress.
The movie was in black & white.
Yes, that ending is consistent with the book. I love Olivia! I was reading a bio on her a few years ago and I was so surprised to find out that she grew up in Saratoga California which was not very far from where I grew up. I think I had assumed this whole time she Was born and raised in England.
I have not seen this particular film version. I would love to. I think it would be a very good adaptation of the book but those amazing actors!
It was was published in 1951 I believe but am I right that the setting takes place around the mid to late 1800s?
Yes you are correct.
I wonder how it would have been recieved had it actually been written in that time period..
My mind kept changing throughout. Philip isn’t the most reliable but my first incline was that she was guilty.
I still thought she was guilty up until she put all the family jewels back in the bank for him.
@Crystal I know that was weird. That’s why I loved the book , my mind was continually changing throughout the book
I’m not sure if I’ve read a book other than this one that made me feel like I need to reread it right away again ?
From my reading perspective Rachel was innocent. She was a free spirit & Philip could not deal with that. He wanted more from her than she was capable of giving & I think he was mentally ill also?