The Remains of the Day - Literature review Example

Character Development in The Remains of the Day In the novel The Remains of the Day, the noble attributes of dignity and ‘greatness’ are central to the theme. The main protagonist Stevens is continually contemplating the formulistic makeup of ‘greatness’. One of the main components is decidedly dignity, a virtue he qualifies with numerous examples. As his journey stretches to a world beyond the only world he has ever known, Stevens begins to question his ideas of about ‘greatness’ and what constitutes a fulfilling life. As a butler, professionalism in the face of any situation is the embodiment of dignity. Subservience and strict adherence to the demands of a master is all Stevens has ever known to be true. But a glimpse beyond the gates of servitude show him a world that with countless possibilities casting innumerable doubts upon every certainty he’d conceived in the blissful ignorance of his limited world within the walls of Darlington Hall. Throughout the novel, Stevens’ physical journey coincides with the progression of his character as new realities turn his world upside down. Stevens character is portrayed as the quintessential embodiment of decorum. His grace, professionalism and adherence to the most refined forms of etiquette stand in stark contrast to the bluntness of American culture as represented by his boss Mr. Farraday. Mr. Farraday is an utter contrast to the character of the former employer Lord Darlington, whose reserved, proper persona is exactly like that of Stevens. Mr. Farraday represents the blunt and outspoken nature of American culture in the novel. One of the first indications of this brazen manner is shown in Mr. Farraday’s desire for banter and the candid and suggestive manner in which he speaks about Stevens’ ‘lady-friend’, Ms. Kenton. The entire nature of the conversation makes Stevens uncomfortable.. It is through the interactions of these two characters that the sharp contrast between American culture and older English culture are depicted. While his manner suggests disdain for the openness of American dialogue, Stevens’ station causes him to believe he is inferior to his boss Mr. Farraday. The novel begins with the discussion of the journey Stevens will begin at the encouragement of his new American employer, Mr. Farraday. The decision to journey is one prompted by a letter from a former colleague, Ms. Kenton, who is vaguely described at this point in the story. After a short bout of indecisiveness, Stevens decides he will travel, leaving behind the familiar Darlington Hall. The narrative moves forward into ‘Day One’, during which Stevens begins his trip with the uneasiness at the prospect of leaving behind the familiar Darlington Hall. As he travels, he begins to contemplate how to define a great butler, and ascribes some of the characteristics to himself. His utter humility, however, never allows him to consider himself great; rather, he is able to recognize the dignity with which he performs his duties – a source of genuine pride for the humble butler. This is the first point in the narrative that acquaints the reader with the importance of dignity, decorum, and devotion to duty as Stevens’ idea of life’s most substantial fulfillment. After only twenty minutes of driving from Darlington Hall, Stevens describes his surroundings as unfamiliar, giving yet another glimpse into the microcosm that has been all Stevens has ever known of the world. His confinement to Darlington Hall shows another dimension of his devotion to servitude; the fact that he knows virtually nothing of the enormous world beyond Darlington is meaningless to Stevens. It would never occur to him to be discontent over the unknown world that he had yet to explore. To him, his satisfaction comes from the achievement of the duties he has been assigned – his ambition is fully realized with the dignified execution of the tasks assigned by his employer. During ‘Day Two’, Stevens reflects on Ms. Kenton, whose original reason for departure from Darlington Hall years ago was marriage. In her recent letter to Stevens, however, she conveys the fact that her marriage is not doing well. In a long reflection, Stevens discusses the relationship he’d witnessed between Ms. Kenton and his father. In his father’s older age, he began making mistakes in his duties – a fatal flaw in the eyes of Stevens whose entire purpose is devoted to the perfection of his servitude. Ms. Kenton constantly drew attention to Stevens’ father’s mistakes – the worst blunder occurring when Stevens’ father fell and dropped a tray he was carrying. This results in new assignments for Stevens’ father, which is the equivalent of a gentle pronouncement of the father’s failure and increasing ineptitude. Despite the pain endured by Stevens as he must reassign his father’s duties with the tacit implication of his father’s deteriorating capabilities, the event results in a rare moment of emotion between the father and son, as the father admits he is proud of Stevens and calls him a good son. The significance of Ms. Kenton’s character becomes clear as she is the one who witnessed Stevens’ father’s increasing uselessness. She is also the one who finally closed the father’s eyes after he passed away while his son’s devotion to duty kept him busy elsewhere in Darlington Hall. While addressing the subject of ‘greatness’ and its qualifiers, Stevens has added a new component in butlers of his generation: The selectivity of choosing a household in which the employer’s work aids the progression of humanity in some aspect of moral rectitude. He further distinguishes the importance of dignity in his commitment to a household by working for someone whose actions are morally conscientious. During the course of his journey on the third day, Stevens comes across the news that Giffen and Company, a silver polishing business, is closing. The practice of silver polishing is becoming outdated and obsolete. This news has a correlation to Stevens’ profession as well as Stevens’ entire outlook on life. Both his profession and his manner of living are slowly becoming a thing of the past. Stevens’ personality often conflicts with his surroundings now that he has ventured beyond his familiar microcosm of Darlington Hall. As seen when he tries to engage in banter with his new boss Mr. Farraday at the beginning of the novel and with common people he encounters on his journey, his manner is awkward and doesn’t quite mesh with the modern styles that have avoided him in the small manor in which he has worked for the same English lord for the majority of his life. Additionally, Stevens finds his choices at odds with the additional criterion for ‘greatness’ of choosing a morally-upstanding master. His Lord Darlington was a Nazi sympathizer, and though he claims to not have thought much of it at the time, Stevens finds it difficult to defend his master. This realization is quite difficult for Stevens. He cannot defend the actions of his former lord, and yet, if Lord Darlington was morally-corrupt or even misguided, then Stevens is guilty of the same counts through his faithful and diligent servitude. eee The stoicism displayed by Stevens seems bizarre in the context of the emotional world around him. Events around him are harmful and yet, Stevens is able to look past these events in an optimistic outlook as to what will transpire in the remains of the day. In the course of more consequential events, Stevens looks what the future might hold for the remainder of his life. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro is a powerful narrative about the life of a archetypal butler who considers his life ‘fulfilled’ by the devoted service he has given to Lord Darlington. His journey serves to help his personal growth when he attains his ideal ‘greatness’ – a combination of dignity and autonomy. The autonomy alludes him through his service to other men, and he finds himself challenged by his insular way of life and the faith he has placed in the hands of the mere man he serves. Read More