The Remains of the Day Part III

So, the book is at it's end. I must say, honestly, on a scale of 1-10, I would give it a 3 or a 4. It's not really my choice for a book to read, but then again, some of the scenes were enjoyable. The book to me was a little dull. I caught myself reading certain lines or paragraphs more than once because I wasn't engaged in the book. But enough of that...

While Mr. Stevens is driving in his Ford after the doctor drops him off, his mind is preoccupied with none other than good ol' Miss Kenton. "In fact, many of the sights that greeted me this morning were among the most charming I have so far encountered. It was unfortunate, then, that I could not for much of the time give to them the attention they warranted...one would be meeting Miss Kenton again before the day's end," (211). Is it just me, or does this sound a little skeptical. I hate to say it but Stevens sounds like he's nervous and not the regular nervous that a person usually gets when reuniting with someone they haven't seen for a while, but rather nervous, "butterfly" nervous. He couldn't appreciate his surroundings, why? His mind was on someone else.

The secret meeting with the leaders in Day Four-Afternoon, was I have to admit, suspenseful reading. While Mr. Cardinal was in the library drunk conversing with Stevens, I kept imagining that he will do something stupid...and I still believe that. I'm not sure if I believed him when he said that the Germans are using his lordship (Mr. Farraday) as a pawn. Ever since the whole firing the two Jewish maids incident, I knew there was something strange going on. Mr. Cardinal does have a point because I don't think Mr. Farraday would have just done something like that on his own.

Also, Miss Kenton seemed irritated that she didn't receive a satisfying enough answer from Stevens. I think he was surprised but just didn't want to show it because of "professionalism and dignity". I think she wanted him to be jealous or be in some way, angered by her decision to accept her acquaintance's proposal, he just didn't succumb to it.

I find his meeting with Mrs. Benn (Miss Kenton) a good experience for Stevens. I thought she would admit that she had feelings for him and that she would leave her husband and runaway with Stevens...okay, I'm getting ahead of myself. But, it's good because now they know where they both stand--friendship and all lingering questions have been answered.

So Steven thinks he gave his best service to Mr. Darlington? I agree with him because, serving Mr. Farraday hasn't been at all that satisfactory for him. He finds himself making mistakes that he normally wouldn't do. But, speaking to this retired old man that he meets helps him realize that he doesn't have to try to hard, that he can sit back and relax. I find it only because he expects too much of himself which causes him to do so.

I like the ending. We can see that he wants to be able to please Mr. Farraday the way he pleased Mr. Darlington. He's going to practice "bantering" as he's attempted to in the beginning of the story.

I realize I like Mr. Stevens because he takes so much pride in his career and actually wants to do well...he wants to please...he wants to make his boss happy...and not only for his own sake, either.

As those before have mentioned, was Mr. Stevens and Miss Kenton's relationship love? I do believe that their relationship was love, maybe tough love. They both have pride in their own ways. Mr. Stevens rather remains professional and Miss Kenton is well, Miss Kenton. But it is at the end that her intentions were to "annoy" Mr. Stevens. Also, during their brief meeting during tea, Mr. Stevens commented many times about her physical features--little minor things from the way her shoulders move to the way she would smile. But, I do agree their relationship was sort of that undercover hiding it inside don't want to tell you type of love...

But overall, now that I think it over, I give the book a 6 out of 10. I guess it was because of the ending. It was pretty sad the way the two departed, possibly never to see each other ever again. To see Mr. Stevens get so sentimental was a plus because I saw him as a dull boring character.

****It is now 5:04 A.M. Going to sleep only to wake up in about an hour.