The Remains of the Day
So, as you travel with Stevens, I'd like you to think about England as well as about the man himself. Ishiguro's journey into the man is also a journey into the land itself. You might want to read a little modern British history, especially of the colonial period (essentially, the reign of Queen Victoria through WWII), and see how you might connect it to Stevens.
Are you annoyed with his syntax (style of speaking) yet? If not, I think it might not be improbable that, at some point in the future, you might possibly come to, perhaps, not be unannoyed...like, you know, right now. What do you think Ishiguro is doing by having Stevens speak this way? What does it say about him as a character?
Three posts each, please. And tea with lemon and sugar. Perhaps a scone....
posted by Ms. Clapp @ 10:11 PM
32 comments
32 Comments:
I'm posting this from jolly London Town at an extremely hot internet cafe, so I don't have the book handy at the moment.
I also haven't completely finished this book yet, but I think I have a general feel for it.
It seems to me that Stevens takes any expression of emotion as a lack of "dignity." Even when his father dies, he is very proper and professional. I think one of the most striking moments thus far (I'm on page 203) is when Stevens' father tries to reach out to him for a final time, finally acknowledging that he may not have been the most caring father figure. Stevens treats him with the same distance and coolness he utilizes with the dignitaries at Darlington Hall. While reflecting on the moment, Stevens excuses his behavior by claiming that this is how his father would have liked him to have acted. Clearly, this is not true. The ailing father was looking for some final compassion and love, which is why he reached out to his son in the first place.
Another example of Stevens' chilly manner is in his interactions with Miss Kenton. It is clear that he has feelings for her -- and she for him -- but he cannot bring himself to admitting it to himself. His journey to find her is is only nominally professional. This is made apparent by his admission that her desire to return to Darlington Hall is very ambiguous. As his travels progress, he realizes that Miss Kenton may not actually want to come back. At this point, it is clear to the reader that Darlington Hall's lack of help was only a convenient excuse for Stevens to reconnect with "the one that got away."
I agree with Tommy that Stevens is overly analytical. He seems to be the type of person who does not actually experience life, but watches it from the outside. Unfortunately, this distanced perspective has not allowed him to learn to understand human motives and actions. Therefore, he often misinterprets them. For example, when he blatantly lies about his former employment under Lord Darlington to a visitor, he does not seem to understand why it upsets Mr. Farraday. Stevens believes he holds an insight into the ways of society that few others would understand.
I'm at work right now, and there's not much to do besides checks and payrolls, so I decided to start my blogging.
I just finished the first third of "The Remains of the Day," and I think it's a pretty great book so far. I actually don't find the syntax annoying. It shows how Stevens is REALLY explicit about all the things that he talks about. He just goes on and on and on. At least what he says isn't too boring, so I can bear with his babbling.
Anyways, the way Stevens speaks does say a lot of about him. I agree with Michelle that "Stevens takes any expression of emotion as a lack of dignity." He's always serious and is not able to joke around except that one time when he managed to make a comment about the gypsies. He is such a conservative and traditional person that seems not to be able to move with the development of the world around him. While he starts off talking about Mr. Farrady, he seems to miss his old lord too much, so he just keeps talking about Lord Darlington and how the old days were. I sometimes feel bad for him because he's just SOO stuck in the past. Each chapter starts off with like 3 pages describing the actual trip, and then like 30 pages relating it to the past.
Also, the way he talks about Miss Kenton, I bet he likes her deep inside. He seems annoyed with her, but the way he wants her to come back so much to Darlington Hall, I can see he shows some feelings towards her. Hehe.
That's it for now; time to continue processing checks and reading more.
Cora
I am almost through a third of the book, and yes, Stevens's syntax has gotten on my nerves quite a bit. He has this way of using completely unnecessary phrases like "I should say" and "that is to say" that drives me beserk! Not to mention his way of explaining things using the pronoun "one" that seems utterly pretentious. However, I tried not to focus so much on how Stevens's syntax was affecting me as how it was establishing his character. First of all, Stevens speaks in such a way that would come off, as I said before, as pretentious in an everyday conversation and which, with its extreme attention to correctness and explicitness, is an odd way for someone's thoughts to come flowing naturally out of his head. Everything he says is so polished and dignified. This relates to Stevens's own character in displaying his attention to professionalism at all times; or as he says, "The great butlers are great by virtue of their ability to inhabit their professional role and inhabit it to the utmost" (42-3). He is always in butler-mode, always showing this extreme attentiveness to detail and “inhabiting his professional role.” This is also ascertained by how many countless times he talks about his vocation, in his description of the staff plan and of what constitutes a great butler and so on. Also, the fact that Stevens always quotes other people demonstrates how he is constantly trying to prove to the reader how precise and professional he is, with evidence to back up what he is saying and to give himself more credibility.
I am 100% in accordance with the many that have pointed out how over-analytical Stevens is. He doesn’t just accept matters for what they are, nor can he finish an entire story through without pausing and delving into the meaning of some little event in the story or his opinion on something or without going into another sub-story that he thinks will enhance the original tale. He is so focused on analysis that he often gets side-tracked and loses the original intent of the story, only to go back to it much later. For example, in the very beginning of the book, Stevens begins by mentioning the trip he is intending to take, then must explain how the idea for such a trip evolved, and then he goes off on a huge tangent about the reasons he finally came to take his employer up on the offer of the trip. There is also no doubt Stevens reads far too deeply into the actions/characters of others. He comes to the conclusion that Miss Kenton’s letter could indicate nothing other than her desire to return to Darlington Hall when she only made a few nostalgic references; he elucidates the many reasons why his father should be among the ranks of the great butlers; all in all, he seems to think himself a great judge of human character who has the knowledge to classify others’ motives and personalities.
Also, from what he says it can be extrapolated that Stevens believes that he is so much further above everyone that he has given himself the position of relaying what constitutes proper conduct and the course of action that others should take to better themselves. As an example, Steven says: “It is surely a professional responsibility for all of us to think deeply about these things so that each of us may strive towards attaining ‘dignity’ for ourselves” (44). Statements like these from Stevens characterize him as a little condescending, an attitude which can especially be seen in his interactions with Miss Kenton. For example, during one conversation Stevens patronized Miss Kenton for addressing his father by his first name and for “talking down” to his father, in effect actually talking down to Miss Kenton.
I agree with Tommy that Stevens is connected to England through his nationalism. He takes so much pride in being an Englishman, even to the point of thinking himself superior to those from other countries: “We English have an important advantage over foreigners in this respect and it is for this reason that when you think of a great butler, he is bound, almost by definition, to be an Englishman” (43). This quotation blatantly illustrates that because Stevens holds great butlers in such regard, and such are, according to him, only found in England, he looks down on other countries that cannot produce this high breed of person. There is also the connection that Stevens makes when comparing a great butler to the English landscape, declaring that “It is with such men as it is with the English landscape seen at its best as I did this morning: when one encounters them, one simply knows one is in the presence of greatness” (44). Although outwardly Stevens admits that he does not consider himself a great butler (about which he claims “it is hardly for me, in any case, to make judgments of this sort” (70)), inwardly he desires to become one of this elite class, wants to be as dignified and great as the beautiful English landscape he sees, which he strives for with his constant professionalism and seriousness about his vocation. Anyone who talks about being a butler so much, tries so hard to be as adept in his profession as he can be, and endeavors to classify the definition of a great butler obviously longs to be classified in the latter category.
Also, how ironic is it that Stevens over-analyzes the nature of other people but cannot see his own correctly? Michelle mentioned that Stevens cannot admit to himself his feelings for Miss Kenton. (I actually didn’t make the connection that he had a romantic connection to her, but it does make sense; he waited 20 years, until her marriage broke up, to visit her, and talks about her so much for someone who supposedly annoyed him). But anyways, this makes sense with the point I was trying to make, how Stevens distorts his own nature in his mind. He convinces himself that he has no feelings for Miss Kenton to such an extent that he really believes his motives for visiting her are purely business. I haven’t gotten that far into the novel, but perhaps Stevens’s journey into England coincides with a spiritual journey of his own, in which he can finally own up to his feelings and see himself as he really is.
I finished this book quite a while ago at this point.
I thought the ending was very satisfying. After visiting Miss Kenton and having his long conversation with her, he has cme to peace with the past. He was over-analyitical of his youth because he may have been looking for a turning point -- some point in his life that could have changd the entire course of his future.
At the beginning and through most of the novel, Stevens believes what he truly wants is to be a great butler. But by the end, he realizes that like all people, he just wants to be happy. Unfortunately, I think he has found that one of the best ways for him to become happier was to have married Miss Kenton. However, it doesn't depress him that he never did. He admits to being heartbroken, which is clearly a step in the right direction as far as expressing any emotion.
Finally, the sunset and discussion of twilight and nighttime being the best times of the day was very poignant. Stevens is in the twilight of his life and he has finally found some rest.
I'll finish this point later because I have only about 17 seconds left
I am now done with a little more than 2/3 of the book and want to devote this post to Stevens' attitude towards Miss Kenton.
Throughout the whole time that Stevens works with Miss Kenton before she leaves, he acts so cold to her; always trying to act professional (and with "dignity") in front of her. All this time, I believe, he is just lying to himself (and to the reader). He is just too afraid to admit that he has actually fallen for someone because it is totally against his principles of being the "great" butler with "dignity in keeping with his position." It would make him such a hypocrite to admit to liking Miss Kenton after all the times he mentioned the non-professionalism of housekeepers who go off marrying and losing their job.
And to this effect, he is very careful in showing his emotions for Miss Kenton to the reader. Every time he seems to say something that may have some underlying feelings, he would quickly add some reassuring lines on how it was only related to professional matters. For example, when Miss Kenton threatened to quit her own position if the two Jewish girls were released, Stevens said, "This did, I must admit, make me a little concerned for a time that she was serious about her threat" (150). Before the reader can make more out of this statement, though, Stevens would qualify the statement and say that he only meant that in a professional sense.
Also, when Miss Kenton was trying to see what book Stevens was reading and so preciously guarding, Stevens was afraid to reveal that he was actually reading a romance book. Claiming that his reason for hiding the book was only because of a privacy issue, Stevens was again lying to himself. He was too afraid to show that he was like any other person: someone with emotions.
Even when Miss Kenton tries to confront Stevens about his way of always trying to pretend and lie, Stevens only laughs it off. Miss Kenton sates, “Why, Mr Stevens, why, why, why do you always have to pretend?” His reply makes it seem that he does not even know that he is a faker, but deep inside, he just doesn’t know how to respond.
After all this, I just think it’s so sad that Stevens can never express himself. He could make his life truly happy if he was only willing to admit to his emotions. If only…he doesn’t always lie…
Alright, I am about 2/3 done with the book and I am upset with Stevens’s actions. He is so caught up with being the perfect butler, of living up to that image of the dignified butler calmly shooting the tiger in his employer's dining room without breaking a sweat, that he loses contact with reality of the moment. He's always either looking behind him at the past to analyze what has already happened or looking ahead to the future to anticipate the next piece of work, and as a result neglecting the present. He thus skids by life on the surface, tending to work above all else, and not allowing himself to delve deeper into how he is feeling at the moment but only experience the superficialities of it.
I could not believe how Stevens reacts when his father died and I, too, was shocked at how nonchalantly he treats the situation. Rather than taking the time to reflect on such a terrible tragedy and mourn for his father, he immediately throws himself back into his work. Even the cook, Mrs. Mortimer, shows more emotion for Mr. Stevens Senior than his own son, “weeping bitterly” (109) over the death while Stevens himself sheds not a tear nor betrays any sign of emotion. Stevens actually congratulates himself on this behavior, stating: “…you may not think I delude myself unduly if I go so far as to suggest that I did perhaps display, in the face of everything, at least in some modest degree a ‘dignity’ worthy of someone like Mr. Marshall—or come to that, my father…For all its sad associations, whenever I recall that evening today, I find I do so with a large sense of triumph” (110). He is trying so hard to live up to his father’s example and expectations (or what he believes these expectations to be), to emanate his father’s impressive dignity, that he ends up allowing himself to be permanently disconnected from and to part with this very person he so admires without any vestige of sentiment. It is because of his professionalism in dealing with such a tribulation that Stevens believes he showcased the dignity possibly warranting the title of a great butler. But what is the worth of this title when it means that he had to give up his father, after whom he modeled his life, without even uttering goodbye? What can possibly be gained from this besides a purely superficial sense of accomplishment that masks his true emotions? Stevens is building himself a house of cards, each card a professional accomplishment… but sooner or later the wind is going to come knocking down these cards, and he is going to have nothing left.
There has been much talk about Stevens not being true to himself. Not only is Stevens lying to himself about his true emotions, he is also now lying to others. On two instances, he makes direct statements about not having worked for Lord Darlington, which, upon later reflection, he concedes to having made so that he wouldn’t have to hear further allegations directed against his past employer. However, Stevens very often makes a point of declaring Darlington’s noble and honorable qualities and furthermore, admiringly cites the example of his father abruptly silencing the two men who were making crude comments about his employer. Thus, one would only assume that Stevens would take pride in standing up for an employer whom he has lauded so much on many prior occasions, an action which would also show loyalty equivalent to his father’s. Nor is the excuse he offers substantial enough to justify full-out lying. It seems that there is something about either himself or Lord Darlington that Stevens is witholding, and it just goes to show that his level of deception has pervaded other aspects of his life other than just his emotions. Later on, when Mr. Farraday asks Stevens is he is the “real thing,” i.e. a genuine English butler who served a real English lord, the question is so relevant to Stevens in general, who is so wrapped up in his lies and trapped in his misguided analyses that he cannot distinguish reality anymore.
I think Stevens’s journey for the first time allows him to live in the moment, to live life as if he weren’t watching it as a movie. There was a moment earlier in the book befitting how the journey was affecting him. It was when he stopped his car for the stray hen in the road and received warm thanks from its owner; and “the simple kindness [he] had been thanked for, and the simple kindness [he] had offered in return, caused [him] somehow to feel exceedingly uplifted” (69). From this interaction, Stevens actually felt a simple but deep connection with the hen’s owner, and it is this very connection to other humans that had been so lacking in Darlington Hall because Stevens never let himself become attached to anyone. Also, as Stevens himself says, the trip allows him to reach new perspectives on previously meditated issues, providing him with time for self-introspection rather than analysis of others.
There is much talk of England in a political sense in the second third of the book. The impression is that England is an honorable country that wishes to undo the wrong that has been committed at the WWI’s Treaty of Versailles insisting on extending the suffering of the defeated Germany, in order to improve the state of affairs in the world. Stevens, too, believes he is contributing to humanity by having served a noble man like Lord Darlington, knowing that his “efforts, in however modest a way, comprise[d] a contribution to the course of history” (139) and the bettering of humanity. Stevens is firmly convinced of the importance of his job, that especially by virtue of the fact that he is working in a ‘distinguished household,’ he played a part in determining the course of his country and worked to preserve the dignity of England that differentiates it from the likes of other nations. Stevens wants to believe that he is one of the stitches of thread holding his country together, and on his journey he can see just how much he is firmly attached to his nation which he holds so dear to his heart.
Okay! I think I just blabbed on as much as Stevens… :)
Again, very thoughtful comments. I encourage you all to take another look at his syntax - yes, he's very formal and precise, but is he direct? And what does that say about his character?
I finished the book already; I seem to have an issue with commenting on a book while reading it...
I was thinking of a perfect word for Stevens and after ten minutes or so I realized he can easily be compared to a robot. Stevens barely shows any emotion at all throughout the book, especially when Stevens(senior) died. Stevens basically leaked instead of crying. Stevens blindly followed Lord Darlington's commands, even when Lord D. demanded that all people of Jewish descent be removed from the staff. At that point in the book, I was hoping that Stevens would voice his opinion and be a hero of sorts, but I suppose that would have been unlikely of his character =( .
Stevens is the epitome of obedience, but he seems to regret his obedience towards the end of the book. Stevens even seems ashmed of serving Lord Darlington due to the misconception(s) of Darlington's racial outlook. It's swell and all that Stevens saw Darlington as a 2nd father, but I don't think the feeling was mutual.
Stevens obviously begins to consider what his life would have been like if he had opened up to Ms. Kenton. This spin on the book made Stevens seem colder, and of course less human. The only love Stevens exhibited was towards his job and dream of being a "great" butler.
It takes Stevens the entire book to realize the sacrifice he has made by devoting his life to butlerhood ( I hope that is a word). I reckon the whole point of the book is to caution readers against devoting themselves towards dreams and/or careers which consume large chunks of their life.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/robot
robot:
(3)
A person who works mechanically without original thought, especially one who responds automatically to the commands of others
^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Stevens ^^^^^^^
Okay, in response to Ms. Clapp's suggestion, I wanted to look a little further into Stevens's syntax. Stevens is not direct at all in what he says; he talks in a very circuitous way instead of just coming out and saying the point. And this in itself describes him very aptly, for Stevens has a great deal of trouble in saying (or even pinpointing) what he feels. Not only that, but he has a way of describing things by explaining what did NOT happen or what he did NOT feel; for example, when Stevens was obligated by his duty to Lord Darlington to fire the two Jewish maids: “I was not unperturbed at the prospect of telling Miss Kenton I was about to dismiss two of her maids” (147) instead of saying “I was perturbed…”. This also relates to Stevens’s difficulty in relaying his feelings. It makes it easier for him to illustrate his sentiments by using this convoluted, roundabout method rather than directly admitting how he feels. His syntax also reveals that he is not altogether an honest person. You know that saying, the more a person denies something, the more it is true? Well, Stevens often denies things a great deal, for example, that the nightly meetings with Miss Kenton were anything more than strictly professional, although it is clear that was not the case, for the two chatted about matters unrelated to work for part of the time and had the meetings at least partially for the reason that they enjoyed each other’s company. There is also the instance of his trying to explain why he happened to be reading a romance book, elucidating that it was for purely educational benefits. He goes on to deny that he chose to read such sentimental books for pleasure: “I rarely had the time or the desire to read any of these romances cover to cover, but so far as I could tell, their plots were invariably absurd—indeed sentimental—and I would not have wasted one moment on them were it not for these aforementioned benefits” (168). He spends a page trying to convince the reader that his primary motives in reading this sort of literature were for those purposes, when it is clear that for all his denials he did, deep in his heart, enjoy these romantic works (which he later admits to, despite his previous comments). His syntax also shows his unreliability as a narrator. Stevens will go about telling the facts of what happened in one of his stories and leave out crucial parts. For example, after Miss Kenton reveals to Stevens that her acquaintance has just proposed to her, Stevens goes on with the story without revealing at all his emotional attitude, and by his tone it would seem like he is absolutely fine with this turn of events and that he carries no emotional attachment to Miss Kenton. However, further into his story it is obvious that Stevens is upset by the fact that Mr. Cardinal asks Stevens several times if he is “all right,” which illustrates that he must have shown clear signs of distress and anxiety. Stevens kind of reminds me of an older Holden Caulfield (except of course, more dignified), by virtue of the fact that both are “phony” and unreliable.
On a different note, I was thinking about the great growth as a person Stevens made by the end of the novel. Stevens says near the end of the book to Miss Kenton, “The day his lordship’s work is complete…only on that day, Miss Kenton, will I able to be able to call myself, as you put it, a well-contented man” (173). At this point, Stevens feels that he will only reach a sense of contentment when his employer has come to the end of his work, that he may not feel satisfied until he has fully served his employer. In other words, only through successfully completing his term with Mr. Farraday will he be able to reach this point, not through any personal reason for contentment. By the very end of the novel, it is clear that Stevens’s journey has changed his view. I understand what Michelle was getting at when she says that Stevens has reached the “twilight of his life.” As Stevens notes, “Perhaps, then, there is something to his advice that I should cease looking back so much, that I should adopt a more positive outlook and try to make the best of what remains of my day” (244). He is finally able to accept that he cannot derive his only fulfillment by striving for perfect professionalism and that this must come from enjoying the moment instead of reliving the past, from making sure the twilight- the remains of the day- is one in which he can actually relax and enjoy himself.
I particularly felt touched when Stevens changes his mind about the nature of bantering, declaring, “After all, when one thinks about it, it is not such a foolish thing to indulge in—particularly if it is the case that in bantering lies the key to human warmth” (245). This demonstrates such a fantastic leap in character for Stevens! He is now actually concerned with forging intimate relationships with people that in his impersonal way of relating to others he previously was never able to make. In addition, Stevens is at last able to move on past Miss Kenton after twenty years of pining after her. He gains a sense of closure from seeing her and realizing that she actually is in love with her husband and is happy in her own life, and thus is able to let her go and not ask her to return to Darlington Hall. And finally, Stevens arrives at a different opinion on the idea of loyalty. Earlier on in the book, Stevens proclaimed that “a butler who is forever attempting to formulate his own ‘strong opinions’ on his employer’s affairs is bound to lack one quality essential in all good professionals: namely, loyalty” (200). At this point, Stevens is of the conviction that a good butler cannot be loyal if he questions what his employer does. However, by the end of the novel, as Dana mentioned, he does not believe his absolute obedience to Lord Darlington was appropriate. There were many insinuations of Lord Darlington having a far worse nature than Stevens wants to believe, like when Darlington ordered the firing of the two Jewish maids due to their religious affiliation, although Stevens had justified these instances by saying that his employee knew much more about these matters than he did and thus he could not judge Darlington. Stevens concedes to Darlington’s misguided approach and that there was no dignity in having simply done everything his employer wanted him to without questioning it or attempting to choose his own path. It seems that from then on out, with this concession and the admittance that he can no longer carry out his tasks as well as he used to, that Stevens has at last put his days of striving to be the perfect, dignified butler behind him, and that he will step out of his "robot" role.
Also, to in trying to connect England with Stevens, I was looking at one of Lord Darlington’s quotations-- “We’re always the last Stevens. Always the last to be clinging to outmoded systems” (198) -- and it seemed a rather apt analogy for Stevens himself. Lord Darlington is referring here to the fact that England is often stuck in the past, for example in its use of what Darlington thinks of as an “obsolete” democracy. Stevens, too, is trapped in his past, in trying to analyze what has already occurred rather than what will occur. I think I could go as far as to compare England’s landscape with Stevens- the morose moors a metaphor for his own unhappy state, many hills representing the steep and arduous internal journey he has had to take to make his personal growth by the end of the novel, the majestic mountains representing his own dignity. In terms of a connection with British history, there was also the issue of appeasement in Britain at the time of WWII, in trying to appease Hitler so that he wouldn’t go to war with the rest of Europe. I was thinking that this could also be reflected in Stevens, how he tried to appease himself so that he wouldn’t betray any signs of emotion or any feelings for Miss Kenton; his heart was his own worst enemy that he had to mollify.
I just finished the book, and like Michelle said, the ending was pretty satisfying. With Miss Kenton’s assuring words, Stevens is finally happy to know that all his worries and his trip has come to a satisfactory close. He no longer has to look for clues in her letters trying to find hints of a desire to return to Darlington Hall.
I enjoyed the mentioning of the lighting of the pier at the end of the book. I took it as a symbol for the beginning of change and the end of persistence of the old days. The quietness of the spectators before the lights came on represents how he was at the start of the novel. Like them, Stevens was always quietly contemplating everything that involved his working as a butler. He hid himself in the darkness, behind closed doors, and his body incapable of showing emotions. However, by the end of the book, the lights snap on. It is start of realization. He admits his strict loyalty in Lord Darlington may not have always been appropriate. He realizes that he was indeed always stuck in the past, resistant to change (like England as a whole), and that it is now actually appropriate and fitting to learn to “banter” because it is part of the new culture. Instead of looking back at what happened, he can now look forward to what will happen in “the remains of the day.”
And to answer Ms. Clapp’s question, I too believe that Stevens was a very indirect person. The whole sections where he was trying to describe what a great butler was by giving so many examples where butlers like his father and himself showed dignity, I believe were just roundabout ways to prove, in a non-conceited way, that he too was actually a great butler. However, at the end, he learns to be more direct. He actually straight out asks Miss Kenton the questions that has troubled him for so long instead of doing a lot of fake talk before getting onto the real point. Stevens asks her if she was ill-treated by her husband and adds, “I would feel foolish had I come all this way and seen you and not at least asked you.” This shows that Stevens’ character does develop significantly through the story.
One of the most revealing aspects of Stevens's character shows itself in how he narrates his story. Like Nina said, he is an unreliable narrator. He portrays himself as extraordinarily stoic, but this cannot be the case. There are a couple of times that guests to Darlington Hall have commented on his well-being: after his father died and after he hears of Miss Kenton's engagement. It's kind of weird that Stevens feels it is necessary to hide from the reader his true thoughts, but it follows with the character that Ishiguro has created.
Stevens's style of speaking is a defense mechanism. By skirting around the big issue, making up excuses, and going on enormous tangents into being the greatest butler ever to walk the earth, he avoids admitting his actual thoughts. He hides his true personality behind professionalism. Parts of the novel seem oddly third-person.
Stevens's loyalty to Lord Darlington at first seems very misguided. How could he stand by Darlington's blatant anti-Semitism and Fascism? Stevens is very conflicted. On one hand, he feels he plays a role in world events. On the other, he truly believes that he is unworthy of forming opinions on such happenings. He passively supports Darlington not only through loyalty, but also through a blind faith that the Lord's position gives him a greater understanding of the world.
One of the most confusing elements of the book is that Lord Darlington is hosting subversive meetings in his home, which seem to last right up to the London Blitz. Stevens probably realizes that these conventions (most of which are in secret) are traitorous. Again, however, due to his unreliable narration style, Stevens sometimes gives the impression that he supports Darlington and his collegue's ideas. I think Stevens is confused. He has convinced himself that Lord Darlington is a great man who wants the best for England, but his conscience tells him the actions Darlington has taken are wrong.
I do not fully trust Stevens' ability to tell the truth. At different times in the book, Stevens is unsure about his memories. I understand that he is explaining events that happened 20+ years ago in the narrative, but I do not trust his perception. His mind was easily molded by the will of Lord Darlington; Stevens' memory became clouded by his dreams of grandeur. Simple things like recalling when Ms. Kenton cried in her office became mixed with other memories. Also, Stevens mentions the day that he and Ms. Kenton watched his father pace outside staring at the ground, but when he first mentions it, he cannot recall it perfectly; he later remembers; Stevens may have just fabricated memories to satisfy himself. I do not believe Stevens is crazy, but he may have fuddled up his memories to remain oblivious towards his unhappiness.
Stevens made Lord Darlington's affairs sound like they would end the world if they went sour. I believe Stevens just added this importance on his own part to make himself seem crucial to worldly affairs. It basically comes down to the point that Stevens exaggerated Lord Darlington's prestige so he would not feel as if he wasted his life for a rich nazi-puppet.
I understand the importance of the title, but did Stevens not have any remainder of his days when he served Lord Darlington? Stevens strictly devoted himself to being a butler in a way that people devote themselves to religions. Once Stevens finds that he does not need to devote himself in his entirety to "butlerhood". This disenchantment strikes Stevens hard and shatters his fabricated reality.
so for the second book that i read, i found this book to be incredibly easy to read. it only took me less than two days and it was much more easier to understand than one hundred years of solitude
in the first few pages, i could already tell that Stevens never really thought about himself. He puts being a butler in such high regards that he forgets to live his life. When Mr. Farraday offers to pay for his gas and tells him to take a trip, Stevens answers him by saying " It has been my privilege to see the best of England over the years, sir, within these very walls." (4) His whole life is immersed in being a butler. I also agree with Tommy about how Stevens status as an Englishman gives him a sense of superiority. Stevens then talks about the incident with his father and the car ride. He belives that his father was one of the greatest butlers and that his father demonstrated great dignity which is the one thing that makes a great butler "great". You can tell that he regards his father as somewhat of a role model. With the insulting comments of Mr Smith and Mr Jones, i was surprised that his father didn't show " one hint of discomfort or anger, but continued to drive with an expression balanced perfectly between personal dignity and readiness to oblige." (38)
Also when he first started talking about Miss Kenton, i could tell he obviously had feelings for her. Although he talks about how annoying she was and goes on to tell various stories about how she would always confront him with details about his fathers mishaps, you can tell that he developed feelings for her along the way. He talks about how her failing marriage is "tragic and saddening" but i kept feeling that inside he was actually happy. He talks about how his goal in the trip is to bring Miss Kenton back to Darlington Hall, but i believe his goal is to have a second chance with her and as Michelle put it " to reconnect with the one that got away".
The one thing that got to me about this book is when his father died and instead of spending the last moments with him, he went to serve guests. Like any normal person would have understood if he went up to see his dead father. I guess in not going to see his father and close his eyes, he thinks that he is showing "dignity". "Even so, if you consider the pressures contingent on me that night, you may not think i delude myself unduly if i go so far as to suggest that i did perhaps display, in the face of everything, at least in some modest degree a dignity worthy of someone like Mr Marshall- or come to that, my father. Indeed, why should i deny it? For all its sad associations, whenever i recall that evening today, i find i do so with a large sense of triumph." And when dana said he thot of Stevens as a "robot" i was like HEY ME TOO! its the perfect word for him. Stevens father just died and you dont see him crying or anything, its like he has no emotions whatsoever.
I've read up to page 100 and yes Ms. Clapp I am a bit annoyed by the syntax. It makes it difficult to read at times. I find myself re-reading paragraphs over again because my mind seems to wander with the style. I can manage, and after a while you get used to it and barely even notice it. It started off a bit shaky but it seems to get more interesting as I read.
I think that by having Stevens speak in such a proper manner gives him a very well-manner persona. It aids in conveying what kind of person Stevens is. The way he talks shows he is a stern man, who rarely jokes around. Also, it shows that he is a serious man, and it is seen in the first few pages when he had difficulty thinking of a witty response to Mr Farraday. Stevens clearly takes his job very serious and puts his job as one of his top priorities. This is clearly shown when he continues working when his father dies. I thought him quite heartless when he did this. It really showed what was important to him. Even though he said “I know, my father would have wished me to carry on just now” (page 106), it still seemed wrong.
However, the way he carried himself at the time his father passes was very calm, and he showed “dignity”. I loved the story of the butler who found the tiger under the table in the dining hall. It was hilarious how the butler acted so calm, and simply shot the lion three times returned and announced “dinner will be served at the usual time and I am pleased to say there will be no discernible traces left of the recent occurrences by that time.”(page 36) He held his composure really well and made it all seem so normal it was funny. This is similar to how Stevens held his composure when his father died. He was shaken up, but kept it together. That was admirable in the sense of keeping his dignity, but I still think it was cold of him. In addition, I loved how the man with the foot pain kept nagging at Stevens for a bandage, and Stevens lied and said he called a doctor for him. That was very clever of him; he kept doing his job by satisfying the guests while dealing with his father’s death.
I really am enjoying this book so far. It's entertaining and Stevens is a really unique character and i like him.
Alrighty, I'll make this first ROD blog about Stevens' syntax and what I feel to be his almost tragically inhibited character.
Honestly, I actually enjoyed Stevens' manner of speaking, probably because it just helped to evoke his character all the more. I realized he would often employ double negatives, such as "not improbable" (again, no page number, but I do recall it fairly well), likely to avoid being direct as Ms. Clapp said. That seemed to me to be a major flaw in Stevens--how he would constantly almost relegate himself to a subordinate position on both a conscious and subconscious level. I suppose it was his way of being humble and properly assuming his position as a butler, but I think it led to serious repercussions such as all the instances in his life where he really should have asserted his true feelings and independent opinion. It was really sad how he obviously could have had a happy life with Miss Kenton (or Mrs. Benn) but seemed to choose to fully and completely occupy the 'realm of professionalism' that he always held so high on his list of priorities throughout his life.
Although Stevens will tell his view of a story with bias, Ishiguro still makes evident how thoroughly Stevens relegated his emotions to the very bottom of his agenda. Like the time that Miss Kenton confronted him for
purposely making it seem like she shouldn't leave for the evening (when she tells him she was proposed to). The dialogue Stevens relates to us doesn't betray his feelings, but his actions as stated by Miss Kenton seem to reveal his true intentions.
The way Stevens never asserts himself in any way really bothered me because every time he related some story or other, you're just dying for him to act on his emotions for once but he always assumes an impartial role, devoid of any emotion of opinions (or any expression of it). It was almost as if he always suppressed his human side. For me it was a tragic decision of his because he really seemed to have thrown his life away as a result.
I was expecting more out of the confrontation between Miss KEnton and Stevens. I guess i should have known that i'd be disappointed, but i expected something..more. I thought Stevens would say " i love you" or something of the sort. When Miss KEnton stated that she didn't love her husband in the beginning, i was thinking that she left Darlington HAll in part because of Stevens. Because Stevens doesn't share his emotions and thinks only of his "professionalism", Miss KEnton felt like it was a lost hope to wait for him. Plus it states somewhere in teh book ( i dont know the page number), that Miss KEnton was getting old. I think these are part of the reasons why Miss Kenton left to start a marriage with somebody she didn't even love.
Well, I've been falling a little behind on my reading and blogging. I've been in and out of MGH for the past week and a half now and I finally have a chance to blog before I go out again.
I just read a line on page 167:
"'Good gracious, Mr Stevens, it isn't anything so scandalous at all. Simply a sentimental love story.'"
Now I'm feeling a little romance going on here between Stevens and Miss Kenton. Perhaps Stevens may not have the doorknob-type personality after all. I think there is a little party animal just waiting to come out of him.
Well, I'll get back to reading in which I'll probably finish it tonight before I get back and I'll blog tomorrow. After that, one more book to go. I'll have that tea and scone now! =)
oh yes! so i was really surprised that the book that Stevens was reading was a romance book. I thought it would of been something boring. The way he was covering up the book shows his reluctance to show that he has emotions. He hides it like it is a dirty secret or something.
Okay, so I want to spend this blog talking about that ever so sketchy Lord Darlington.
First of all, it made me aggravated how Lord Darlington evidently was being so easily manipulated into sinister plans--despite all his pretense for wanting to help usher justice into the world. Then it made me even more aggravated how Stevens was so blindly and ever so faithfully believing in Lord Darlington. He really just repeatedly neglected to make his own decisions and form his own opinion. Stevens just conformed to his professional occupation to an almost obscene degree. While I understand the portion about loyalty, I don't think there could ever be a sufficient excuse for being so blindly faithful. I mean obviously Lord Darlington was instrumental in aiding the Nazis and even when Stevens is looking back on his master in retrospect, he still fails to completely and outrightly criticize Lord Darlington for his flaws. He may be reluctant to admit that he spent 30 odd years serving a Nazi sympathizer but I really feel like that was such a dire flaw in his character.
I also want to mention that I didn't exactly love Stevens' pomp over Great Britain's "greatness." It may have added to his character and such but I could have done without it.
I forgot to mention that although I initially thought the book was a simple enough book, as the story progressed I began to think the complete opposite.
As Stevens relates more and more experiences and events that have taken place in his life, you being to realize more and more how much he held back from living his life. It seems like from the time that he was in the prime of his youth until his 'present' old age he devoted all, ALL of his resources solely to his job. It's like the whole story is some really subtle and quiet tragedy. Actually, looking back on the story in retrospect, Stevens' life is really tragic in that he never really allowed himself to live it. From the context surrounding his motortrip, it seems like he never even took a real vacation in his entire life. As far as romance goes, he constantly rejected Miss Kenton (when she was Miss) and repeatedly broke her poor heart.
His life seemed to be really lived out of habit, which isn't really a life at all. Stevens never deviated from daily routine apart from his motortrip and you know at the end of the book that he's going to live out of habit until he dies. You see his lost opportunities as he reminisces about his past and you see his final chance with Miss Kenton thrown to the floor towards the end of the book. The whole story was one long drawn out chronology of his suffocated life, a life where he exiled all his emotions and lived by the same routine every day for anyone but his own self.
Stevens let his profession overshadow every aspect of his life--such as when his father died and all the times Miss Kenton tried to be friendly. I just thought it was really tragic (and aggravating) how Stevens put his life on the course that he did.
I find Steven and Miss Kenton's relationship rather awkward. They don't get along well with each other a lot of the time. It was amusing to see them trying to constantly try to prove each other wrong while maintaining their professional attitude at the same time. I loved when Miss Kenton was trying to prove to Steven that he was wrong about his father's butlering skills. How she was so persistent on showing that she was right about how he is making more and more mistakes. She waited so long, and Stevens knew her intention and put on an act that he was in a rush.He would not allow her to prove him wrong by not looking at the misplaced statues. The way they act towards one another is amusing. In a way they are very similar, both take their jobs seriously, both do not like to be proven wrong, and most of all both very stubborn.
Other times the two of them get along well, and joke around. For example, when he would not show Miss Kenton the book he was reading and she implied that he was reading "something rather racy."(pg 166) It showed that Miss Kenton had a bit of a humor, while Stevens showed none at all.To be honest i thought in the end there would some kind of romance between the two of them.I was wrong. They have a very professional relationship. That is expected, since Stevens is a very proper and serious man. He would not allow himself a relationship with an fellow employer. He did look down upon the two workers who ran away and got married.
I personally did not like Steven's personality. I agree with Wanyi about how he does not show much emotion.He does not express his feelings very well, and is so stiff when it comes to situations such as the death of Miss Kenton's aunt. He must think that by being emotionless, he is maintaining his "dignity". It would be healthy for him to express how he feels, and not be afraid to show it.
I wrote these blogs at the hospital so here I go.
First of all, I'd like to say that I was right. Stevens and Miss Kenton I'd like to thank the Academy, God, for without him none of this would be possible, and Mariah Carey, for starring in the fabulous movie entitled "Glitter." The movie really grabbed me in the hospital and said, "Damnit, son, stop watching this crap and finish your reading!"
...Yeah. Well, I'd like to say that the book wasn't my favorite of all the books this summer, but it was rather a different read. I really don't mind Stevens's style of speaking, because it shows me the "Aura that is Stevens." (That'd be a pretty cool movie.) When I think about Stevens, I think about a little old man who's really nervous about himself, say, a little self-conscious. (Think...the old "Lonely Man" in the ad for movietickets.com that's on before the movie comes up in the theater.) He pauses a lot and adds many unnecessary things to his sentences because, to me, he seems nervous and unsure. For instance, in a situation where you are talking to someone that is famous, you, for instance, uhh, start, to talk, uhh, kinda like this, because, uhhh, you may, perhaps, be somewhat, nervous, or scared, maybe even cautious, for you don't want to mess up or sound like an idiot.
As a butler, and a fine one at that, he has a certain level of professionalism that he must maintain and if slowing down his speech to add things that make him sound more articulate do the trick, then he will do it. I don't mind Stevens's syntax too much.
Ishiguro did a fine job of representing the English butlery. (HE DID HIS HOMEWORK!) Being a butler was not a low profession like we may think of it nowadays. We sometimes compare it to a maid or something that just does the dirty jobs(I am obsessed with that show!)that no one else wants to do in the house.
In England, butlery was mainly an instance in the king's home, and it caught on with the wealthy. A butler was more than just a maid, it was a fine, respectable human being. It first started out as the maintenance upholder of the house. A butler would cook, clean, serve guests, repair items that broke,(ex.: nowadays: cars; olden days: horse-drawn carriages)tend to the animals, take care of children. The butler was the "knower of all things to know," so to speak. They were there for advice, to carry on conversation, and to make any guests feel at home. The butler had to know a wide variety of topics to discuss about at any point in their day. A butler was, in my opinion, the person to keep you sane, the person to go to when something was wrong, and the person who would always be there for whatever reason, sort of like a best friend.(Only you pay them.)
This sort of professionalism was portrayed through Ishiguro's writing in that Stevens never gave his true emotions because it was never required of him. He always gave his opinion when asked but never his emotion because it wasn't his place to give it, sort of like when Miss Kenton's aunt died and he let her be. Although he did wish to console her he didn't. Later, when Miss Kenton comes out of her room, Stevens tries to avoid the condolences by covering it up with his professionalistic attitude, pointing out errors in the work of the new maids.
Ishiguro did a fine job of showcasing the English butler.
I finished this book well over a week ago, but I really have no idea what to write about it. :-\ Ok, here goes..
I loved it. I felt really bad for Stevens because I felt that he suffered more than everyone else. Keeping everything inside the way he did must have taken a serious toll on him. And since he never expressed emotion, the reader would never know the extent of his sadness, happiness, anger, etc. It was almost heartbreaking for me to read the encounters between him and Miss Kenton becuase they obviously felt something for each other. However, all the little scenes they shared did amuse me because of the first-grade-like bantering that they threw back and forth.
For example, the conversation that took place between the two about the new help in the house, Lisa really made me chuckle. I thought it was cute how Ms. Kenton said, "It is a guilty little smile you have on, Mr. Stevens. And I've noticed how you can hardly bear to look at Lisa. Now it is beginning to become very clear why you objected so strongly to her." (156) I can just see the look on her face as she said that. Like embarassing your big brother in front of the class.
Another example would be when Ms. Kenton told Stevens about the way she would mock him when out with her "accquaintance.". She later apologized for the way she acted. This shows that she clearly cares what Stevens thinks, and doesn't want to look bad in front of him. "Mr. Stevens you mustn't take anything I said earlier to heart. I was simply being foolish," (226) she says. Stevens reacts in a very (in Michelle's words) chilly manner. He shrugs her off by saying he doesn't remember any such occurance, and hurries off to serve Lord Darlington and his guests. It's reactions like these from Stevens that make the story so sad for me.
Stevens syntax never really got on my nerves much. Maybe it's because, at times, I tend to wander off the way he does O_o Well whatever the reason may be, I know that I never wanted to throw the book across the room due to his way of speaking.
I think Stevens spoke the way he did because he was insecure of his own strengths and weaknesses. He never wanted to give an answer that seemed too well aware of his own personality. It seemed that he let his employers create a persona for him. Also, because he was a person that served more powerful men, he probably felt that it wasn't his place to be as straightforward and direct as a professional man should should be. I can recall a part in the book where he gave himself credit for something, but quickly played it down, as to not seem too proud of himself. I didn't write the page number down, though :-(
I thought that the way Stevens stressed the issue of learning how to banter so much was really amusing. However, he only became concerned about this when Mr. Farraday became the head of Darlington Hall. Like Erica, I think that this really underlines the difference between American and English culture. While Americans are more casual, laid back, and maybe even a bit disrespectful on certain occasions, the English are far more proper and consider their customs and traditions carved in stone.
Stevens seems so much like a robot to me sometimes. It gets me a bit angry. I hate how he is so stiff all the time and afraid to show emotions. He doesn’t have much of a personality either. I absolutely love his attempt to banter with Mr. Farraday. He is making such an effort to be good at it by listening to radio stations and people talking. It’s amusing. Americans are so used to bantering and joking around like that, that it seems odd that the English don’t do that. I mean it is so common in our culture and that it is hard to believe that it is so difficult for the well mannered English. I loved how Stevens sat around and thought of witty remarks ahead of time, to prepare for Mr. Farraday. I felt embarrassed for him, strangely.
Also, I just remembered something that is irrelevant to what I was just talking about. I found it hilarious when Lord Darlington asked Stevens to educate one of the sons of Lord Darlington’s friends about the Birds and the Bees. That is the oddest thing to ask someone to do. Especially to a grown adult he is not familiar with. Stevens maintained his professionalism when he tried to convey the information though.
"We're always the last, Stevens. Always the last to be clinging on to outmoded systems. But sooner or later we'll need to face up to the facts. Democracy is something for a bygone era. The world's far too complicated a place now for universial suffrage and such like. For endless members of parliament debating things to a standstill. All a fine few years ago perhaps, but in today's world? (198)"
-Lord Darlingon
Although he is obviously talking about the government, I think that this passage in a way relates to Stevens' personality. He is very careful and thinks things over far too much. So much that he just doesn't do anything about it. For example, when Miss Kenton's aunt died, he considered giving her his condolences, thought it over, and just walked away to continue waiting on Lord Darlington and his guests. He left the matter at hand unattended.
Another example might be the question of dignity that runs the entire book. Stevens creates one definition for it, thinks it over, adds to it, takes from it, puts it together, pulls it apart, and so on a so forth. I don't think he ever really comes to a conclusion as to what dignity could be, in his opinion anyway. There was that scene in the book that Stevens describes as "a most discomforting set of events (180)," where a group of people from the village he is staying at discuss their own definitions of dignity. I think that debate, though he felt uncomfortable, opened his eyes to the idea that you don't have to be a 'gentleman' of high status like Lord Darlington in order to be dignified. Therefore, making him rethink his own definition.
Tommy mentions page 28 where Stevens is describing the breathtaking view of the countryside. One line struck me as a fitting description for Stevens: "the very lack of obvious drama or spectacle... its sense of restraint (28-9)." Stevens is very subdued, he blends in, he is in the background, yet he is the main character of this novel. It looks like Ishiguro basically took all the qualities of Great Britain and put them in a person.
Well, I have to say that this was by far my favorite book out of the lot of them, I dare say.
Being the history buff that I am this way the perfect combination of WWI and WWII era as well as the personal life of an English butler. The story was simple yet filled with memories that could really be ones of an English butler in that time period - and did I mention that it was jolly good?
Syntax?!?! -it made this book! Well in the manner of speaking that if Stevens wasn't the traditional very formal butler the contrast between him and Mr. Farraday would not be as distinct as it was.
For myself, stories always seem that much more realistic when syntax is used. But, like, honestly Ms Clapp if I had to listen to someone talk like this like all the time - I think like that I would probably like go crazy - I mean like I think that I like definatly would.
Like totaly right on.
I was just thinking about the extream formality of everyone in this book. Of course, I know that the British all ways seem to be more formal than the Americans (but than again who isn't).
One time in particular come to mind. When Stevens' father dies. You would think (at least I did) that you would go see your dying father for five minuets befor he passes on. But good old Stevens was busy serving Lord Darlington and guests to see his father.
And even after the fact that his father died and Miss Kenton comes to tell Stevens of the news he cannot even then take five minuets to go see his father. He was just much to busy serving Lord Darlington to do that.
Wither it was his committment to his duty or he just could not bear to see his father like that - I do not know. What I do know is that if Stevens did not go see his father because of his committment to his duty - well personally I think that his commenttment is to the wrong people.
At the end of the book, when Miss Kenton and Stevens finally meet after all the years of not having seen each other, something that Miss Kenton said concerned me.
Stevens was concerned, the whole book, about the well fair of Miss Kenton because of what she had written in her final letter to Stevens before he left. What she had written gave Stevens that impression that she was unhappy in her marriage and concerned that divorce was eminent.
When Stevens finally asked Miss Kenton what was happening with her marriage she replied, what I thought, the strangest answer.
She said that she had grown to love her husband. That one moment she will fell as if the world is coming to and end and the next she will be very happy.
But the whole part about in the beginning she did not truly love her husband but that she grew to love him. Not something that I could put up with. Even though situations like this one were common I do not think that I could put up with a situation like that.
Stevens’ lifetime spans the great cultural shift that took place in England; it shifted from the one of few super powers in the world to one of many super powers. The fact that Stevens first serves an English nobleman and later serves a wealthy American illustrates how noble Englishmen lost their power to foreign industrialists. Basically, Lord Darlington represents Old England and Mr. Farraday represents the new world order. During the early 1900’s, England had the most powerful navy in the world but decades later and it was sub-par to other nations. Stevens believes that England itself has lost its pride and, in a way, this is true. In his prime, Stevens headed an impressive staff at Darlington Hall. Once Lord Darlington dies, Stevens barely has enough staff members to keep Darlington Hall in order. Stevens remarks about England’s beauty throughout the book as if it were going to fade away some day soon. Stevens is uncertain of England’s future and fears change, just as he always had. Stevens did not match well with his American employer, just as England had not fared too well as it was swarmed by American investors after the World Wars.
Ahhhh. my last post never got published. oh well Posts 1-3!
Post 1:
Stevens annoyed me just a tad bit by the way he kept obsessing over the ideals of a great butler and what constitutes dignity. He had kept talking about ways in which he showed he was dignified, as if he needed to reassure himself that he had reasons for claiming that he had 'dignity'. He also had no emotions whatsoever! When his father lay on his deathbed and called out to his son, all Stevens did was go up to the room for 2 minutes just to walk away. Then he would find out his father was dead, and just go back to work as if nothing happened. Sure, it's necessary to hide your emotions, but to not even go up to say good-bye seems cold. Also, when his father had fallen while carrying the tray, Stevens showed no real concern for him. He merely told his father that he was pretty much being demoted. Another instance was in which he was able to dismiss some of the servants based on their Jewish beliefs with a straight face. He showed no compassion and he barely put up a fight to keep them. he also had this very stuck up attitude in that he never seemed to admit he had feelings! With Ms. Kenton, you could sense that he enjoyed her company a little bit more than just professionally, but he never expressed it.
Post 2:
Professionally, I found Stevens among the best, but as a person, well that's a different story. He was able to do his job and do it well and he knew it too. He didn't appreciate it when Ms. Kenton snapped back at him, almost questioning his power as butler. He was even trying to adapt himself to the new owner by trying to learn jokes and witty remarks that he could use someday in the future. He handled himself even in the most obscure and menial tasks he was asked to do by honored guests. He kept himself composed at all times and made sure that emotions did not get in the way of doing what he was hired to do. (I know this conflicts with the previous entry, but it's because it's analyzing from two different views.) You had to respect the man for holding in everything without letting anybody sense a thing, especially when he was bandaging up a foot while his father was dying. He never once complained because it was an honor to serve at Darlington Hall. It seems like it's almost similar at working at the White House. Anyways, Stevens took control of his staff and he knew just what he was doing. Professionally, he was downright good.
Post 3:
Overall, I didn't like Stevens. He analyzed things too much, especially the letter from Ms. Kenton. He reread it over and over to make sure that he was interpreting correctly, even though he would find out for sure a couple of days later. I have to say though, he has a very good memory, almost unrealistic. He remembered with such great detail events throughout his career and even his father's career. The extent of the details made this story drag a bit, especially with Stevens roundabout way of saying things. Like Sandra, i too had to reread some pages because the repetition of the phrases drove me insane and i found myself skipping over sentences. Stevens claimed that he only had a professional relationship with Miss Kenton, even when he went to the tea meetings. If that was so, why did he analyze the letter so many times, to make sure that she wanted to come back to Darlington Hall. It was as if he was forcing the words to match his ideas because he secretly fancied Miss Kenton but he just never wanted to admit it.
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