Tell that to his boyfriend and mates down at the disco and bath house.
shareHa ha I'm British and we're not all that repressed. Only 80%. I can summon up some passion sometimes if I try.
Seriously though, I kept wondering what's wrong with him, and if he's gay. They say be careful what you wish for as it might come true. Imagine if he married her, what kind of husband he would have made?
Brilliant reply lol
shareHahaha,
Yeah he's definitely not gay- he was in love with miss Kenton.
He is very British tho! I say!!
I've seen comments of this sort often enough. Some people are always seeing gay characters; some people are always denying there are any. During the code time and before gay liberation, there were plenty of instances in film where a gay person or relationship was portrayed or hinted at: Mrs. Danvers in Rebecca, Joel Cairo in The Maltese Falcon, Plato (Sal Mineo) in Rebel without a Cause, Mesala in Ben Hur. In the last two instances, it has even been acknowledge that that was intended. Still people deny this. On the other hand some people are constantly seeing gay characters. These people are always certain that English men are gay. Regarding Room with a View, I've read comments to the effect that Cicel is obviously gay, as is the Reverend Beebe. To my mind, this is just an instance of Americans being unable to distinguish between what were considered "refined manners" by the English and a man's sexuality. While certainly many gay men during periods in history when being gay was not acceptable chose to suppress and repress their feelings Stevens is clearly a a person who has horribly repressed his emotions, but the fact that he is repressed and that many gay persons were repressed does not bring us to the ineluctable conclusion that Stevens was gay. I saw nothing in the film to suggest it. I could point at the scene where Stevens asks Miss Kenton if they could locate the German maids the Lord had sacked, and Miss Kenton criticizes him for "always having to hide what he feels" (i.e., repressing his emotions), at which point the pretty maid, Lizzie, walks in to pick up a tray. After she leaves, he stares longingly after her, although he denies it when Miss Kenton calls him on it. Well, he was staring longingly at Lizzie, the dishy maid, and not at Charlie, the equally dishy footman with whom Lizzie left service to marry. This scene suggests his suppression of his heterosexual longings, not his homosexuality.
shareI thought this too with some friends because any real man would've smashed Ms. Kenton and he had every opportunity to do. She was open to him but he repressed it and criticized such actions. I can understand the strength and power of such etiquette manners but the red boil masculinity out powers that when it comes to women. Ms. Kenton was hot enough to smash but he resisted. She gave him every opportunity and hint but he stood firm. There is no reason why. I doubt the owner cared or it would've cost him his job as the Lizzie example showed of no consequences and if Mr. Stevens was so discreet and disciplined he could've been in such ways about this. Instead he did nothing and let her run off. I doubt any man would've allowed that especially at that time when this was more common. He died alone as he should've as he choose anything else than Ms. Kenton.
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