iss Kenton does all she can to get Stevens to show some sort of emotion, but she always fails. She even tries to anger him by telling him that she and her acquaintance “often pass the time amusing [themselves] with anecdotes about [him]” (219). He just brushes her comments off and goes about his business. Stevens’ fixation with being a “great butler” instigates his lack of personality and social skills. He has pushed his feelings deep within himself for so many years that he does not know how to act naturally around people. When his employer, Mr. Faraday, suggests Stevens taking a road trip one day, Mr. Stevens spends the next few weeks trying to think of a way to bring up the topic again:“It nevertheless made sense not to broach the topic when he was preoccupied or distracted. A refusal in such circumstances may well not reflect my employer’s true feelings on the matter… I had to choose my moment wisely.” (12)Stevens does not know how to deal with people naturally. He has to plan a conversation and responses to his employer so that he appears at ease, when really he is extremely nervous. Stevens, who always has his guard up, is not capable of being himself around anyone. When his employer jokes around with him, Stevens has to “set about thinking of some witty reply; some statement which would still be safely inoffensive in the event of [his] having misjudged the situation” (16). Stevens attains his goal of being a “great butler”, but while doing that loses his individuality. He misses out on love and friendship. He gets so accustomed to being withdrawn and dignified that he loses any social skills he ever had. His butler behavior becomes second nature and when he finally gets out of the workplace he does not know how to be social with people he meets. The most important thing in his life is his job and he is willing to sacrifice all other aspect...
