There are two possible takes on Stevens' character.
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — The Remains of the Day
Edward_de_Vere — 15 years ago(August 14, 2010 05:10 PM)
There are two possible takes on Stevens' character.
The first was that he was naturally cold and unemotional, and that his persona came to him by nature rather than by design. In other words, he didn't have to "repress" any feelings towards Miss Kenton because he simply had none for her, nor did he have strong feelings of any kind towards any person or situation. There are such people in the world ("schizoid personality disorder"), and it makes no sense to pity them because they themselves don't think that anything is missing.
The alternative is that Stevens had a normal, passionate internal life, that at some level he had feelings for Miss Kenton and felt some level of resentment for being humiliated by Lord Darlington's guests (e.g. the man who quizzes him on economic and political questions to prove the point that the underclasses shouldn't be allowed to vote). If this was the case, that makes Stevens' whole life pitiful and tragic.
Certainly Miss Kenton thought the latter, but she, like most people, may have been simply projecting their own minds and desires into his. -
savagesteve13 — 15 years ago(September 11, 2010 05:14 PM)
His internal struggle was that of service vs. being himself. He felt that as a butler he was meant to avoid getting involved in relationships with his employees, and to establish a lasting trust between master and butler he had to not use his position to influence others. Note that he was given many opportunities by Darlington, guests, and even his new American employer to express his personal opinions on matters.
He was a tortured soul, and sought refuge in the rigid structure of his work, and the quiet refuge of his personal time where he would read, smoke and relax, avoiding politics and the events of WWII.
Miss Kenton challenged him many times on his authority, and later challenged him emotionally which he rebuffed repeatedly. He loved her and he knew she loved him, but his choice was service. Many other staff had married off and left, he did not want to leave, or perhaps had felt that if he was married he could not give the kind of impeccable service he demanded of himself. -
Edward_de_Vere — 15 years ago(September 28, 2010 07:29 AM)
Your take may be correct, but the film seems to leave the question of whether Stevens has any hidden feelings for Miss Keaton (or strong feelings about anyone or anything) ambiguous.
One possibility, as you suggest, is that Stevens had a normal, passionate internal emotional life that he suppressed. The other possibility is that he had no feelings towards other people that needed to be suppressed. There's nothing in the movie that spells out what's really going on in his mind.
In the scene where he finds Miss Keaton sobbing and just goes on talking about things around the mansion that need to be cleaned and put away may be seen as intentional coldness (after Miss Keaton ridiculing him), or it could just be that Stevens was utterly incapable of empathizing and relating to another person's emotions. -
chattan258 — 15 years ago(October 18, 2010 12:28 AM)
I agree. Of course here you have to distinguish between the novel, where things can only be conveyed in words (and Ishiguro does this in a very subtle way, e.g. Stevens always calls Miss Kenton "Miss Kenton" in his mind, although she's been Mrs. Benn for a long time; at the end of the novel he also admits that his heart is breaking), while the film does not have his interior monologue, but visual images instead. And the way Anthony Hopkins sometimes stares at Emma Thompson, as well as how he reacts as soon as Mr. Benn appears on the scene, gives clear indications that he has feelings for her which - for whatever reasons - he can't face. It's the same when they meet again after all those years and Stevens's hopes are dashed forever: he doesn't say anything, but it's all in his face and eyes (in the novel, as well as in the cut scenes on the DVD, there's also a scene from the end where he breaks down, basically admitting that his life has been a complete waste).
I also recommend listening to the excellent DVD-commentary by Emma Thompson, James Ivory and Ismael Merchant. -
Edward_de_Vere — 15 years ago(October 19, 2010 02:48 PM)
in the cut scenes on the DVD, there's also a scene from the end where he breaks down, basically admitting that his life has been a complete waste
I never saw it, I'll have to watch it the next time I have the DVD in hand. I'm not sure that it's necessary though, as it spoon-feeds the audience rather than having them infer his internal state.
The one scene in the film that DOES make it clear that Stevens feels that he's wasted his life was at the pub after running out of gas. Stevens tries to present himself as a nobleman - obviously implying that he wasn't proud of having devoted his entire life to being the lackey of somebody important, as opposed to being someone important himself. -
Jessica_Rabbit69 — 14 years ago(August 16, 2011 03:23 PM)
Very nice topic, Edward_de_Vere. It is at least 8 years ago since I saw this movie but it had a big impact on me, so I'll try to answer. And I hope I don't remember wrong.
I do think the answer is actually quite obvious. I agree with savagesteve that it is made quite clear that Stevens does love Miss Kenton.
"The other possibility is that he had no feelings towards other people that needed to be suppressed. There's nothing in the movie that spells out what's really going on in his mind. "
Oh, but there is. Not in so many words, no, but Steven's feelings for Kenton are there in his eyes. There are several scenes where he looks (or stares) at her and I do think you can see the repressed passion. A lot of very subtle hints show his true feelings, but blink and you'll miss them.
A little off-topic, but a lot of people on this board seem to despise Stevens for acting the way he does, but I think that is unfair and just too easy. He could be called an emotional cripple, but some people just cannot show their emotions. Sad, but I think there are worse offenses.
Jessica Rabbit
"I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way." -
jimprideaux — 14 years ago(October 08, 2011 08:41 AM)
Stevens seemed repress his personal feelings and hide behind the mask of professionalism as a Butler. The more he did it the more he became the professional butler. Also Stevens knew his place. When asked for his personal opinions by Lord "Snob" Stevens responded simply that he could not be of help in those matters. A very good answer, professionally delivered. Stevens knew he wasn't really being asked for his opinions but that he was being used. He could not have said "I have not studied such matters and have no opinion, but in asking do you mean to be intentionally rude or are you naturally boorish?"
Unfortunately Stevens takes the Professionalism to an extreme and hides behind it avoiding becoming actively engaged in life. If you act the part long enough it eventually takes over. -
florentyna1972 — 14 years ago(October 16, 2011 08:21 AM)
I think we are given a chance to know a lot more about him from the after the war part of the movie. As I have not yet read the book, I must say I strongly believe he lost his only chance of happiness when he lost her, but it was (for some reason) impossible for him to act when he should have. What I'd much like to know is if/how the war got to him, if he had the time to think things over, with her away and his master emotionally collapsed. It be interesting to know how he finally realised that Miss Kenton was the only woman he would ever love.
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deeveed — 13 years ago(May 14, 2012 10:19 AM)
A little off-topic, but a lot of people on this board seem to despise Stevens for acting the way he does, but I think that is unfair and just too easy. He could be called an emotional cripple, but some people just cannot show their emotions. Sad, but I think there are worse offenses.
You know I've noticed that alot of attention apparently gets paid to Stevens. Of course yet there is another character that is also important and that is Miss Kenton. Of course, both Kenton and Stevens are opposites in some respects though they are very similar especially in looking at the 'remains of their day'. Both were in service and both really did not have very 'successful' lives if we can say that. Both suffer a melancholy of paths not taken. I think part of their stunted lives revolved around the fact that they did not push enough in each of their directions. You'll recall that when it came to dismissing the Jewish maids Kenton was visibly upset but Stevens whatever he was thinking aside had nothing to say on the matter to Darlington. But in a way each of them could have pushed the envelope, for example, asking Darlington why as to the firing of the maids? But they didn't. They had room to roam verbally but as it was they were apparently stuck in their pronounced "roles" that they just couldn't get out of. For both, it was just so hard to say no and opening up to each other. Kenton and Stevens really were in the same boat. Now, ironically, Darlington tried to "open up" dialogue with the Germans but where did that get him and England? The film apepars to be saying it's bad when you 'repress' but also there are no guarantees when you 'open up' either". You could be on the road to disappointment there too. -
jh66 — 13 years ago(June 05, 2012 12:59 PM)
I think that Stevens represses what little emotional depth he has, he almost rebuffs his own father as he opens up about his mother, then even at the film's finale he is unmoved by Miss Kenton's tearful departure, not even a lingering glance to someone he will never again meet?
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rmiikku — 13 years ago(July 31, 2012 11:52 PM)
Its hard to say if he represses his feelings or if he is naturally unemotional. He does have feelings like when he drops wine bottle he is pissed off about Miss Kenton leaving him. He is kind of both. Why is he so interested about being a butler, its not like he just wants to fit in, surely if he did he should be getting married at one point of his life like everyone does. Its not like he is trying to have great career as a butter and gain high remarks, if he did that he should be more interested about appearances not actually doing his job to perfection. Also he should be more willing to change jobs, make his opinions heard and leave if he is not treated well enough. No one is going to notice if he does his job perfectly or if he does it very well. Whole idea of him being a butler is reference to this point. What is he doing with his life, its not a career, it is not to fit in, certainly not to find love and its not stupidity. Is he a butler because he hates himself and his incapability to express himself and his feelings. I dont think it is because he is a pussy and doesn't have balls to be made himself heard, in the movie they dont make references on him being coward.
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cesarat37 — 13 years ago(August 15, 2012 05:59 PM)
It's pretty obvious that he was a repressed person; i got that feeling from the "book scene". He was embarrassed that miss Kenton caught him reading a love story (it was a romantic novel); he -as any other person- thought about love and at that moment he had discovered it with miss K. But, for some unknown reason, he was trying to hide his feelings and his only way of knowing about love was through literature. He wasn't only reading that sort of novel just to "improve his education", of course. But miss Kenton's behaviour didn't help either; it seems to me that she was nearly as much as repressed as he was, and she could have told him at least once that she loved him. Quite a depressing love story, i give it a 7/10 'cause the characters were too enigmatic and ambiguous.
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gmb-20 — 12 years ago(April 24, 2013 12:16 PM)
I saw the film a long while ago, and I only ever thought the latter, that Stevens was very, very, very painfully repressed.
In fact, in my mind, the film would have been pointless if he had been an emotional imbecile. My recollection of the film is that the poor man was a victim of his time and his class and of his total lack of understanding of the changes happening around him.
The repression aspect is what made me cry all through the film.. thinking back, perhaps Stevens reminded me of myself and the repression of my sexuality that I was experiencing at the time I saw the film. I remember I was cheering him on to just take the leap, which I could very much relate to.
I must see it again and work it all out.
Either way, Anthony Hopkins played the role beautifully, to deny this would be to deny that the sun rose this morning or that the sun set this afternoon (depending on the time of day you are reading this). -
USAFmedicVET — 10 years ago(March 03, 2016 05:46 PM)
I saw this film for the second time recently and both times I was left so utterly frustrated by Anthony Hopkins completely emotionless character, that he might as well have been playing Hannibal Lecter!
Too busy 'in service' to a fool at best, a traitor at worst, to close the eyes of his DEAD FATHER? He's diabolical man with NO redeeming qualities. He even lied that he ever served the great Lord Darlington, then agreed that the papers got it all wrong about him, at that tea with Miss Kenton.
"We in it shall be remembered;
We few, we happy few;
We Band of Brothers" ~ W.S.