MovieChat Forums > The Remains of the Day (1993) Discussion > Stevens touching the hand Miss Kenton to...

Stevens touching the hand Miss Kenton touched

posted 9 years ago by Maddyclassicfilms
6 replies | jump to latest

This is something I only noticed quite recently despite having seen this film many times. During the book scene in Stevens study he almost touches Miss Kenton's hair but stops himself.

When she leaves he puts his free hand upon his other hand(the hand she had touched to get the book away from him.)It's almost like he couldn't bring himself to touch her but he could touch something she had touched. Anyone else notice this?

It is my business to protect your majesty.... against all things.

[–] joscco 9 years ago

No, I had not noticed it, but that is a keen observation. One almost aches at the thought of someone so repressed that they cannot respond to the most elementary human contact.

"We all got it comin', Kid." Unforgiven (1992)

[–] Maddyclassicfilms 9 years ago

No, I had not noticed it, but that is a keen observation.

Thank you. Of course I could be reading way too much into it but I don't think so.

One almost aches at the thought of someone so repressed that they cannot respond to the most elementary human contact.

I agree it is so desperately sad. I feel sorry for him but not so much for Miss Kenton because she was repressed too but not to the extent Stevens was. She knew she loved him and I think she could very easily have just told him her feelings. If she had he may well have felt comfortable telling her he loved her, he just could never find the courage to express his love.

It is my business to protect your majesty.... against all things.

[–] joscco 9 years ago

Excellent post. I completely agree.

She knew she loved him and I think she could very easily have just told him her feelings. If she had he may well have felt comfortable telling her he loved her...

Which begs the question, why didn't Miss Kenton tell him? Her own repression you mentioned earlier?

"We all got it comin', Kid." Unforgiven (1992)

[–] Maddyclassicfilms 9 years ago

Which begs the question, why didn't Miss Kenton tell him? Her own repression you mentioned earlier?

I'm not sure but it is something that really frustrates me.I guess it just might have been how things were back then, feelings weren't generally discussed and also if one of them had told the other their feelings the other might not have admitted their love, and then things may have become awkward between them.

It is my business to protect your majesty.... against all things.

[–] Helenlaurence 7 years ago

No those days the woman didn't express her love to the man, he has to make the first move.
Even if she had, I don't think he would have responded, he saw it as his duty to serve and not even distracted from that.
She showed her feelings to him v clearly, but he couldn't bring himself to react. He just couldn't do it!
She knew he never would, in the end.
Yes, very sad.

[–] noveltylibrary65 (200) 5 years ago

lovely observation