Famous Counterparts

I was recently asked about my opinion on a book titled "Rebecca." My friend indicated that a five paragraph response was acceptable. Below is my answer:

Dear Cameo,
If you are referring to the novel "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier, I was informed by several fellow English students my senior year of high school that it was one of the most horrible books they've ever read, and that I should never read it. This, of course, prompted me to read the wikipedia plot synopsis. I heartily agree with my esteemed peers—it is an awful story. Mostly because Rebecca is the antagonist.

I was hoping, however, that when you wrote “Rebecca” you were merely shortening the title “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm” a story that I enjoy very much, mostly because it later became a movie starring Shirley Temple. If you like Anne of Green Gables, you’ll like Rebecca of Sunnybrook. Also, Rebecca possesses similar qualities to myself (imaginative, loves to write, etc).

Of course, you could also have been referring to Rebecca from the American Girl doll series. She is described as “a lively girl with a dramatic flair” who, being part of the above mentioned franchise, is naturally inclined to raise money for the poor and needy and support her family, despite her age. While I believe that I would be good friends with this Rebecca were she a real person, we are not at all similar: she is a 9 year old Jewish immigrant from Russia living in New York City in 1914.

One of the greatest battles of my life has been helping people spell my name correctly. On this assumption, you are referring to the fictional rendition of the biblical story, Rebekah, by Orson Scott Card. Although I haven’t read the book, I already know the ending, and I am pleased that it is a happy one. This was the Rebekah I was named after, mostly because my parents said I was energetic as a child, and I could probably fetch enough water for a dozen camels (incidentally, have you ever thought about how long that would take with a measly pitcher? Those camels have hump water storage and everything!!)

While there are many characters and books titled "Rebecca", I am relieved to know that I do not have to live up to or live down the reputation of any of them. However, if I had to pick, it would be the REAL Rebekah-who actually lived thousands of years ago, and chose to follow God.

Rhetorically,
Rebekah