The Servant | 1963

Main Plot

In The Servant, wealthy and somewhat aimless Tony employs Barrett, a seemingly efficient and respectful man, to manage his London household. At first, Barrett fulfills his duties with quiet competence, but as time passes, the boundaries between master and servant begin to blur. Barrett subtly manipulates situations, gradually gaining influence over Tony’s life and eroding his authority. The arrival of Barrett’s girlfriend, Vera, further complicates the household dynamic, as she seduces Tony and deepens the psychological power struggle. What begins as a straightforward employer-employee relationship transforms into a tense battle for control, with Tony’s confidence and independence steadily undermined. The film delves into themes of class, power, and dependency, as both men become locked in a destructive, co-dependent relationship that challenges traditional social roles and leaves Tony’s world irrevocably changed.

Characters

• Dirk Bogarde plays Hugo Barrett, the seemingly dutiful servant with a complex and manipulative nature. His presence upends the household’s social order, challenging the boundaries of power and dependence.
• Sarah Miles portrays Vera, Barrett’s mysterious accomplice whose arrival complicates the master-servant dynamic. Her actions intensify the psychological tension and blur lines between loyalty and betrayal.
• Wendy Craig appears as Susan, Tony’s fiancée, representing the moral compass and traditional values. She struggles to protect Tony from Barrett’s influence, confronting the erosion of trust and class stability.

Ending Explained

As The Servant reaches its unsettling conclusion, the power dynamic between Tony and Barrett has been completely inverted. What began as a straightforward employer-servant relationship unravels as Barrett’s manipulations take hold, eroding Tony’s authority and self-control. By the end, Tony is a shadow of his former self—isolated, dependent, and emotionally broken. Barrett, having orchestrated Tony’s downfall with calculated precision, assumes dominance within the household, even going so far as to dictate the rules and atmosphere of the home. The final scenes underscore this reversal: Tony, once the master, is now subservient, obeying Barrett’s commands and succumbing to his psychological influence. The film closes on this bleak note, leaving Tony trapped in a toxic cycle of dependency and humiliation, while Barrett’s hidden agenda has fully come to fruition. The ending serves as a chilling commentary on class, control, and the ease with which power can shift when trust is exploited and boundaries are blurred.