On the very first page of the novel, we learn that the butler, Stevens, was taking a journey of some kind; implicitly that leads the readers to thinking that this story will either be about the trip itself or that it may be some kind of reflection that long trips alone bring about. (It’s both.)
The narrator’s perspective is one that is extremely clouded, biased, and most of the previous events took place years prior. Stevens recalled numerous events, such as the night his father passed away, and while it appeared like he was holding himself together multiple people on p. 105 pointed out the contrary. Mr. Cardinal was chatting absentmindedly whenever he noticed something was different, “Quite a little aquarium it was. I say, Stevens, are you alright?'” and Lord Darlington even blatantly said: “‘You look as though you’re crying.'” The point of all of that was to say that Stevens at the “present” time in the novel didn’t seem to think that his perspective was clouded at all, that things were the way that they were, and that he always kept his cool demeanor. That wasn’t always the case, and another instance of this unawareness happened whenever Ms. Kenton explained to Stevens that her “acquaintance” was going to propose to her. Stevens noted how he was simply preparing dinner, but whenever he ran into Ms. Kenton only around twenty minutes afterwards, she said, “‘Do you imagine that by creating so much commotion in the kitchen and by stamping back and forth like this outside my parlour you will get me to change my mind?'” (Ishiguro 216) I know that we discussed in class how every first-person narrator is unreliable, but Stevens’s unreliability is an integral part of his character. How he viewed himself (through a composed and professional lens) is extremely different than how he carried himself during those important moments that he didn’t want to fully acknowledge. It seemed to me while reading that Stevens didn’t want to think of himself as being as complex as he was because it would interfere with his duties as a classy butler.
I like how you mentioned that Stevens’ view of himself in the past is of a composed and professional person, but in reality, he is a very emotional person. I think part of his problem is that he has become so wrapped up in being the best butler he can possibly be that he has seemingly lost himself. He suppresses his feelings because they are “unprofessional.” However, especially with the many interactions involving Miss Kenton, his coldness and refusal to portray his emotions outright often causes friction between the two of them.