“A profound and heartbreaking study of personality, culture, and class” To what degree do you agree?
The protagonist of “The Remains of the Day”, Mr Stevens takes the reader on a journey through his own past that allows him to explore the world outside of Darlington Hall. The complexity of Stevens’ thoughts is slowly revealed to the reader. He is free to either be deeply depressed or infinitely frustrated. Post-modernists are known for their intricacy and ambiguity. This allows the reader to determine whether Stevens’ thoughts are truly heartbreaking. However, it is possible that there are aspects of the book that aren’t as profound or heartbreaking. In Stevens’ personal study, the primary focus is on the relationship between Stevens the reader. The reader can observe the repression inherent in Stevens’ personality by comparing what he recalls freely with what is “fragmented”. Stevens’ narrative often lacks reliability due to the restraint with which he recollects memories. Stevens says that it “often conceals more of what it lays hold”. Unreliable narration in postmodernist literature is used to pressure the reader into deciding what is true. It often mirrors the confusion and complexity of modern living. Stevens is an intradiegetic Narrator. This means that his narrative voice is unreliable. Stevens sees the story and exists within it. Although this narration shows Stevens’ blindness and knowledge, it raises questions about whether the reader ever sees his true personality.
Stevens’ narration is prone to being unreliable due to emotional repression. This is evident in Miss Kenton’s hearing about her aunt’s funeral. Stevens could have misunderstood the passage by using words such as fragment and confused. He adds, however, that the incident continues to be “vivid over the years”. These two contradicting views relate to Newton’s observation, that Stevens “glides though his memories and alternately looks at them away,” which may be a way for Stevens to hide his personality or show that he has become overwhelmed by emotions. Stevens suppresses that particular memory either because of his poor professional conduct and the regret he feels about not comforting Miss Kenton. This story is complicated because of how it reveals and conceals knowledge. He mentions the “strange feelings” that overwhelm him. This leads to the possibility that he is feeling emotions or deep regret. The novel’s other events can be read as heartbreaking. The reader feels empathy for an elderly butler who is unable to express his emotions outside of his work environment.
Stevens also suppresses his sadness at his father’s death, preferring to be a guest or employer rather than addressing his own grief. Adam Parkes described Stevens’ “fear losing control” as the stifling some emotions and memories. Stevens’ sexual love is an example. Stevens refers specifically to Miss Kenton’s comment as “chatter”. Stevens uses metalanguage to convey that he is uncomfortable talking in unprofessional terms as he fear it will affect his job. He also excuses, commenting how their cocoa night maintains a “professional tone”, which is a sign that he doesn’t want the reader to see him as unprofessional. The reader is led to believe that Stevens cannot “fully trust himself”, as he lies to himself and tries to maintain the “dignity,” which he strives for. Stevens defends his “incidental joy” of romance novels. The reader also experiences this incident. Stevens is asked rhetorical questions like “What shame?” and “What is the point?”. Stevens is then able to reveal his humanity underneath his professional exterior.
Stevens uses a distinct narrative style to cover his fear. This is formal and precise. His words conceal any feelings that might be hidden beneath them. David Lodge believes that this “butlerspeak”, is of no literary merit. But, this style uses refined vocabulary that highlights Stevens’ measured personality. It also conveys to the reader that Stevens, who is complex, needs to be examined to find its true meaning. This is a typical post-modernist motif. Stevens’ unreliable personality is evident in every sentence. Petry says that the narrative is Stevens’ “non-formation of his identity”. This observation is based on the fact that Stevens is completely anonymous to the reader’s past, including his mother, childhood, friends and Christian name.
Stevens could argue that his job is what has made him who he is. He has removed all distractions from his life and allowed his profession to define his personality. As a result, his character is based on obedience. He obeyed a travel guide at the start of his journey. Ishiguro says he is “stuck in the margins” because he is neither Japanese or English. Stevens’s situation is similar. Ishiguro isn’t a member of Darlington Hall, nor the society outside of his travels. Stevens wouldn’t be what he is without his job. This personality trait is also similar to Christopher Banks’ in When We Were Orphans. He struggles to fit in school and speaks extensively about how he can gain acceptance in social clubs through his “well-connectedness” to “various higher levels of life”. Banks’ personality is very similar to Stevens’. His main goal is to achieve a false goal. Banks is also faced with conflicting issues regarding love and duty. However, unlike Stevens’s late epiphany of unconditional loving that does not require him to earn it through “duty” and “dignity”, Banks realizes this later. Although he realizes too late, the reader can sense sympathy to him. Stevens frustrates with his blind loyalty towards professionalism.
Ishiguro is adamant that the narrative of “The Remains of the Day”, which Ishiguro calls “not random”, is controlled by the “things that Stevens does not say”; this restraint serves to stop many readers from focusing on the heart-breaking, profound ideal at the very end of the novel. The reader must feel emotionally compelled to feel the same as Stevens, which can often mean reading deeper into Stevens’ personality and feelings than what he says. Stevens’s feelings of loss are evident when Miss Kenton states that she will not be returning to Darlington Hall. However, he makes reference to this hope throughout the novel. But he didn’t share his feelings with Miss Kenton, so the novel doesn’t really convey his loss. Stevens’s “heart broke” is the only way he can reveal this. It’s a remarkable revelation for a character that shows very little emotion throughout his novel. Stevens realizes that his “degree” of sorrow is not hidden, even though he tries to hide it. This is the bittersweet and most heartbreaking moment in their relationship. Stevens’s inability to discuss what “Day Five” would look like adds complexity to their story. It is easy for the reader to picture Stevens alone and lost, with no chance of intimacy.
In the end, it is unclear how much Stevens realizes that he has deceived him. This postmodernist theme is all about the ambiguous conclusion. Stevens may express regret by saying things such as “I suppose…I was something a disappointment,” which could refer both to his father’s expectations and to his own ideals regarding dignity. This would indicate that Stevens is finally realizing his mistakes and feeling sorrow over his inability of altering the past. Stevens can be understood by the reader.
Readers may also feel frustrated by a man who is so consumed with his job that he refuses to allow Miss Kenton the chance to make a happy life. Stevens still asks this question at the end. He knows that Stevens could take control of his life and have the results he desires, but he chose not to. After reflecting on his circumstances, he decides to try to improve his “bantering skill” and ignore the pain that he feels following the loss of Miss Kenton. Stevens’ emotions are revealed to the reader, but he then decides to improve his bantering skills, which he regards as a professional task. Stevens is now able to offer the reader a glimpse into Stevens’ feelings. Ironically, the novel’s final stage is comical because the reader just witnessed Stevens turn his back upon the “human warmth” that he is referring to. The novel’s ending is, from this perspective, neither heart-breaking nor profound. It is just frustrating.
It is easier to answer the question about whether “class” and “culture” in the book are “profoundly and heart-rending.” Stevens allows Lord Darlington to “colonise” him. Stevens often puts the needs or the “colonizers” above his own. Stevens is open to Lord Darlington’s views and that of his gentleman visitors. Stevens believes he must play the butler role. This is a heartbreaking decision because it keeps him from having a relationship with Miss Kenton. It is heartbreaking to see his dedication to his job in a changing world. Stevens is one of a few men who have held such a position in England’s changing domestic service. Stevens is a fine example of gracious decorum. He represents an obsolete, professional “gentleman BUTLER” who cannot live in today’s more modern world with skilled handymen. Giffen and Co.’s closing is more than a sign that silver polishing is no longer a viable profession. This analysis makes Stevens seem apathetic. He prides himself on his “unrivalled” sterling, while in reality it’s his misguided notion of dignity that keeps him safe from the changing culture.
M.Tamaya states, “as England must accommodate itself to America’s rise to imperial power,” Stevens has to “adjust himself” to American masters. This is true throughout this novel. Stevens’ discussion regarding “bantering,” shows his deep commitment to old-fashioned values, judgements, and beliefs. Stevens is afraid that Mr Farraday will offend him when he banters with him. This is because he thinks Mr Farraday, who is his master, is inferior to Stevens. Stevens is no longer able to joke with his employer in a friendly atmosphere. This allows him to study class and culture in a more democratic way.
Stevens has remained a slave to the ideals of his former profession. Stevens is incapable of adapting because he lives in isolation at Darlington Hall, where he knows nothing except his masters’ needs. He also struggles to maintain dignity. Stevens tried to suppress all feelings because of his professional demeanour. Because Stevens doesn’t want to share the feelings Miss Kenton holds for him, but he instead hides his emotions in his work. The reader is also treated to a devastating and heartbreaking examination of personality, class, culture. Stevens claims that his heart is breaking, and that he feels sympathy for Miss Kenton. Thus, the novel’s original assessment is accurate.