Dignity is a central theme of the book, and Stevens admires it both n his employer and in himself and his peers. It also comes at the cost of sacrifice, and Stevens went without a romantic relationship out of his desire to remain at Darlington Hall and continue to serve his beloved master Lord Darlington.

This explanation Stevens makes of his generation, which was coming into adulthood in the years leading up to the Second World War, applies to the war effort and England's involvement as much as it does to his own life. The English suffered a terrible loss during the war, and it would have been made easier by their capitulation. Instead, they remained dedicated to their principles of making the world better in the long-term, even if it meant they themselves suffered.

A scene that speaks more directly to Stevens relationship with Miss Kenston and how this...
[ View Full Essay]