Final answer:
Bernard feels uncomfortable around lower caste members due to societal prejudices that view them as inferior, and his own position of privilege exacerbates this discomfort.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bernard feels uncomfortable around members of the lower caste due to a multitude of deep societal and cultural prejudices that view the lower caste as inferior. These prejudices, often disguised as the defense of culture or virtue, create a sense of disdain towards those performing menial jobs or belonging to stigmatized segments of society. Bernard's discomfort is indicative of a larger systemic issue where there's a societal tendency to mock, ridicule, and humiliate those from lower castes, thereby maintaining a distance and reinforcing the segregation based on socio-economic status or race.
These feelings also emanate from a place of privilege and the burden of recognizing one's own advantaged position in contrast to the disadvantaged, which can elicit a mixed feeling of guilt, discomfort, and a sense of disconnection. The prejudices faced by the lower caste aren't just a matter of economic disparity but are tied up with issues of identity, worth, and the basic respect accorded to individuals, something Bernard struggles with.