Who is Miss Kenton?

Miss Kenton is a housemaid at Darlington Hall. She arrives at Darlington Hall in the spring of 1922. Miss Kenton and Stevens develop a special relationship and they fall in love with each other, but since the novel is written from Stevens' perspective, this is not always obvious. Stevens seems to deny his feelings for Miss Kenton and therefore he also denies Miss Kenton's love for him.

Miss Kenton is a strong and straightforward woman. She is not afraid of criticising Stevens when she thinks he is wrong.

'Unfortunately, Mr Stevens, I am extremely busy now and I am finding I have barely a single moment to spare. If only I had as much spare time as you evidently do, then I would happily reciprocate by wandering about this house reminding you of tasks you have perfectly well in hand.' (p.82)

Miss Kenton leaves Darlington Hall in 1936 to marry Mr Benn. This decision is the cause of a lot of agony for Miss Kenton, because she would rather marry Mr Stevens. However, that does not work since Stevens has difficulties in showing his feelings and opening up to Miss Kenton. Miss Kenton gives Stevens a last chance to stop her from marrying Mr Benn, but Stevens does not take it, because he is afraid of letting go of his professionality and becoming emotional. In this way Miss Kenton, who is both open and emotional, is the opposite of Stevens.


In the end of the novel, when Miss Kenton comes alive in the meeting with Mr Stevens, she is given the opportunity to speak for herself. Earlier, she has only existed as a memory described by Stevens' subjective thoughts.

'I feel I should answer you, Mr Stevens. As you say, we may not meet again for many years. Yes, I do love my husband. I didn't at first. I didn't at first for a long time. When I left Darlington Hall all those years ago, I never realized I was really, truly leaving. I believe I thought of it as simply another ruse, Mr Stevens, to annoy you. It was a shock to come out here and find myself married. For a long time, I was very unhappy, very unhappy indeed. But then year after year went by, there was the war, Catherine grew up, and one day I realized I loved my husband. You spend so much time with someone, you find you get used to him. He's a kind, steady man, and yes, Mr Stevens, I've grown to love him.'

Here, Miss Kenton talks about her marriage with Mr Benn and how unhappy she felt in the beginning of it. This was because she was in fact in love with Stevens, but she realized he could not give her the warmth of a relationship, which she wished to have.