“Extreme emotional control and the damage it can afflict” Essay Example

due to his impenetrable nature that resists affection, he prevents Ms. Kenton from intruding on his life.

Stevens' room is dreary, and Ms Kenton attempts to brighten it up with flowers. Unfortunately, Stevens perceives her gesture as rude, revealing their relationship dynamic to us. Stevens consistently fails to appreciate Ms Kenton's efforts to improve his life, despite her displays of warmth and personality. He considers her ignorant and an interference in his personal life. In contrast, Ms Kenton demonstrates more dignity than Stevens as she makes decisions based on her own thoughts, beliefs, and values, rather than solely in the best interest of their employer. When informed of his father's death, Stevens thanks the doctor politely.

Nonetheless, I would like to inform you that there is currently a highly esteemed individual requiring your assistance downstairs. Despite his inner emotions, his composed and professional demeanor prevails yet again.

Despite being informed of his father's passing, Stevens appears unfazed and returns to the smoking room to tend to what he perceives as more pressing matters. He deems his reaction on that evening as dignified, comparable to that of his butler mentors, Mr Marshall and Mr Lane, and believes his father would have been proud. Although Stevens remembers the evening with a sense of triumph, it's difficult to comprehend why anyone would describe their father's death in this way. This magnifies his fixation on work and desire for dignity. However, in the book's climax, upon reuniting with Ms Kenton after two decades, Stevens experiences love for her for the first time, leading him to state that "his heart is breaking".

Despite knowing it's impossible to alter the past, he contemplates about the

life he could have led. Referring to Ms Kenton by her married surname, Mrs Benn, hints at his attachment towards her, making it difficult for him to let go of her, even after two decades. Although attempting to maintain a formal demeanor during their conversation, he always regards her as Ms Kenton. After their meeting, he sits by the pier where a man offers him a handkerchief, indicating his tears. He confesses to the man about his blunders in completely trusting Lord Darlington.

Gradually, the facade of perfection that Stevens presents as a butler falls away, revealing the true, melancholy, and disappointed man beneath. Despite his efforts, Stevens accomplished little in his life, only experiencing remorse and missing out on opportunities. His perpetual emotional restraint ultimately proved fruitless, leading only to despondency. He serves as a poignant example of a man consumed by ambition in his profession, specifically obsessed with maintaining a sense of dignity above all else.

Despite being given chances to overcome his destiny of loneliness, the protagonist was too ignorant to comprehend the consequences of his actions. In the novel’s conclusion, he recognizes that he is trapped within Darlington Hall’s walls and his profession belongs to a past era, akin to the recently closed Griffin & Co. silver polish company. The protagonist understands that his future is devoid of meaning and he should learn how to banter, a formal and antiquated term, so as to pleasantly surprise his employer upon their return.