Did Stevens really love Miss Kenton?
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karmitz — 17 years ago(December 03, 2008 10:07 PM)
"If he did love her he displayed no indication of this whatsoever."
Actually, he does, but Hopkins does it so subtly. And since Stevens is a man raised by a father "in the service" and devotes himself to its duties with a monastic fervor, it makes sense that he can't relate to her, or anyone, on a raw, human level. You have to look between the lines for clues.
The book scene you mention: He's actually a bit flippant when it begins (well, for Stevens anyway). However, when she closes in and tries to get the book from his grasp, watch his eyes: he stares at her longingly the entire time but unable to bring himself to act. He doesn't even try to stop her. He WANTS her that close.
Watch his reaction when she tells him she's accepted Mr. Benn's marriage proposal: he's at a complete loss and simply hides behind his facade, smiling stupidly while wishing her congratulations. But his expression behind it clearly indicates he's flummoxed and worried.
He acts like a spurned lover when he confronts her at the door when he has to vouch for her employment at the manor to the police. The second the door is closed, his back is to her while he snidely hopes she had a good night off. He's upset she's been off with Mr. Benn, rather than near him in the manor.
In later years, when he announces he's "wooing" Mrs. Benn back into service, it is as if he's hoping to turn back the clock and give himself a chance at finding love with her. That's what makes the ending so bittersweet.
There are many other indications of his affection for her. But that's what makes this story so wonderful is how it defies convention. It doesn't spoon feed. -
chattan258 — 17 years ago(January 08, 2009 08:24 AM)
Kazuo Ishiguro said about the novel (and I think this is also relevant for the film) that it's not only that Stevens represses his feelings because he's afraid that they'd be a danger to his profession, but that deep down he's profoundly afraid of emotions and thus uses his profession as a shield behind which he can hide, an excuse not to face his feelings.
It's great how in the novel as well as the film he can only ever voice his feelings for Miss Kenton in professional terms, i.e. when he says what a great housekeeper she is and how he'd be lost without her. -
guitarnoise65 — 17 years ago(January 15, 2009 09:52 PM)
I think this can be seen quite well in the scene where Miss Kenton admits that she's afraid to leave (after the episode concerning the Jewish girls). Mr Stevens says to her, "Miss Kenton, you are very important to this house." That's the closest he can to come to telling her how important she is to HIM, and you can see him struggle mightily to say even that much.
I don't understand why Mr Stevens even thinks that love and marriage are incompatible with a career in service. The poor man is practically a machine; a wife like Miss Kenton would bring him to life. Mr Stevens Sr was married, and it didn't seem to ruin his long career. I feel tremendously sorry for our Mr Stevens, yet I also want to clout him upside the head a few times and wake him up.
"Oh shut up, you two. And listen, you're not to say nowt." -
garydiamond — 17 years ago(January 20, 2009 07:37 PM)
I always conclude that Miss Kenton "settles" for Mr Benn, one of the first men to show her interest outside of her line of work, because she figures that her love is to be forever unrequited. Even later on, when circumstances have changed so drastically, she realises it will always be too late for him to show his true feelings. All those years went by and he never visited - only in the matter of work did he appear. This is the final telltale sign that he will never be able to connect with her as she would want, even though both finally know that it could have been so much more.
It is a shame because the two demonstrate a chemistry - thanks to stellar turns from Thompson and Hopkins - which goes far beyond friendship. If the movie were set some years hence i.e. a society where women are more liberated, she could have pursued him further and perhaps weakened his resolve, leading to a happily ever after. Personally I like off-kilter romantic plots (Eternal Sunshine and Gattaca spring to mind) so I'm glad the ending is so heart-wrenching; it seems more real this way. I'm sure everyone has had some version of the relationship depicted in the film, although perhaps not over such a period of time and told so well. -
rochelle-rochelle — 16 years ago(May 27, 2009 03:42 PM)
when she closes in and tries to get the book from his grasp, watch his eyes: he stares at her longingly the entire time but unable to bring himself to act. He doesn't even try to stop her. He WANTS her that close.
That was the HOTTEST scene I've ever seen Hopkins do on film. I was like wow!!! What sex appeal!! I wanted him to kiss her! His look into her eyes and then to her forehead and hair, oh, hot damn, that was hot!! I was let down that they never admitted their love for each other. She is obviously miserable with her future husband and he refuses to admit his true feelings. I can't imagine going through life "trapped" like that. The ending of the film is very fitting. At first I didn't like it, but when I saw it again the other night, I related him to that pigeon, however the pigeon was freed. Stevens wasn't.
If there's an empty space, just fill it with a line. . even if it's from another show. -
vivian_anderson — 16 years ago(October 13, 2009 08:31 PM)
Stevens was completely thwarted by his father's example, by the expectations that were placed upon him, and the expectations he placed upon himself. He simply could not bring himself to breach the retaining wall of his dignity and express his love for Miss Kenton, and because of this, he was a prisoner.
Each expression of beautiful manners and decorum was like another bar in a jail cell.
But it kept him safe from risk. And what a tragedy that was in the end. -
monarchgirl-1 — 17 years ago(February 16, 2009 10:44 AM)
I think Stevens really did love Miss Kenton but felt that because of his responsibilities towards the house as butler that he could not devote the time to her and the house. I also thought that he was extremely insecure in terms of that he doesn't deserve and that he is too good for her.
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BlondeIsBetter — 17 years ago(March 15, 2009 11:58 AM)
Well this is the question of the entire film I think yes, he did love her. A lot of British men are like Stevens, it is very typical. I actually have a relationship like this, with, yes, a British man, emotionally distant. When they do let down their guard, it is just like leaving these tiny little clues, they let down their guard in spite of themselvesThen, when they realize that they have revealed too much, the wall goes back up, even stronger than ever.
It is very heartbreaking This is such a wonderful, beautiful, and realistic film. I love it. This is really I think the best Merchant Ivory film, and might even be Anothy's best, even though I love Silence of The Lambs This performance is, well, superb Love this film..