The paper focuses mainly on the representation of "Englishness(es)" in Hornby's and Ishiguro's literary works.
Table of Contents
1. ‘Englishness’ in Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day
1.1 Stevens, the English butler
1.2 The English countryside
1.3 English butlers and Dignity
1.4 Lord Darlington
1.5 Englishness and Americans
1.6 Englishness vs. Japaneseness
2. ‘Englishness’ in Nick Hornby’s About a Boy
2.1 Cambridge and London
2.2 “The Lonely Londoners”: Isolation and alienation
2.3 ‘Englishnesses’
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This work examines the construction of national identity in contemporary British literature by analyzing the multifaceted concept of "Englishness" in Nick Hornby’s About a Boy and Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day, aiming to demonstrate how these narratives move beyond monolithic cultural definitions towards a more nuanced understanding of diverse "Englishnesses."
- The personification of national identity through archetypal characters.
- The impact of class, social status, and personal dignity on individual behavior.
- The role of urban versus rural environments in shaping cultural belonging.
- The experience of social isolation, alienation, and the search for identity in modern Britain.
- The comparison of traditional aristocratic values with contemporary consumerist lifestyles.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1 Stevens, the English butler
In his novel The Remains of the Day (1989) the Japanese British novelist Kazuo Ishiguro tries to question the nature of ‘Englishness’ and its values. The author personifies Englishness in his protagonist Mr Stevens, a butler who can be considered to be more English than any other English butler. Stevens has a strict sense of rank, he is a perfectionist and eager to please. His home is in the memory of his past. But Ishiguro’s butler does not only operate as a domestic servant. He also fulfils a metaphorical sense. Indeed, Stevens represents the mythic England, not so much the historically accurate one when he points out that “[he] tended to concern [him]self with international affairs more than domestic ones” (RD, p. 187). The average English butler would hardly think about the state of the nation. However, this mythic England which represents Englishness by definition does not consider the fact that “Englishness is constructed out of many overlapping myths and images” (CWW, p. 78). Actually, it is “more accurate to speak of ‘Englishnesses’” (CWW, p. 78).
Summary of Chapters
1. ‘Englishness’ in Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day: This chapter analyzes how Ishiguro uses the character of Mr. Stevens and the setting of post-war Britain to deconstruct traditional, mythic notions of English identity and dignity.
2. ‘Englishness’ in Nick Hornby’s About a Boy: This chapter explores how Hornby contrasts different urban lifestyles in 1990s London to show that contemporary national identity is defined by a plurality of "Englishnesses" rather than a single cultural standard.
Keywords
Englishness, Englishnesses, Kazuo Ishiguro, Nick Hornby, The Remains of the Day, About a Boy, National Identity, Butler, Dignity, Alienation, Post-colonialism, Urban Life, Class Differences, British Culture, Social Isolation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this study?
The study focuses on deconstructing the concept of "Englishness" as depicted in two major works of contemporary British literature, examining how national identity is constructed and challenged.
What are the core thematic fields addressed?
The core themes include class dynamics, the role of myth in identity formation, individual alienation in society, and the shift from traditional to modern cultural expressions in Britain.
What is the central research question?
The research asks how these novels represent "Englishness" and whether it is more accurate to view it as a singular ideal or a collection of diverse "Englishnesses."
Which methodology is applied in this analysis?
The work utilizes literary analysis, focusing on character studies, setting, and thematic interpretation to critique the representation of social and national identity.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body covers the lives and motivations of characters like Stevens and Will Freeman, analyzing their personal struggles with social roles, past memories, and the evolving nature of their environment.
Which keywords define this academic work?
Key terms include Englishness, identity, alienation, dignity, class, post-colonial perspectives, and the literary works themselves.
How does the role of the butler function in Ishiguro’s work?
The butler functions as a personification of "mythic England," representing a rigid adherence to rank and dignity that serves to critique the historical constraints placed upon identity.
Why does the text contrast Will Freeman’s life with Marcus and Fiona?
The contrast serves to highlight the diverse social realities and "Englishnesses" present in 1990s London, showing how different lifestyles intersect and influence each other.
What does the term "Englishnesses" signify?
It signifies that national identity is not a static or singular construct, but rather a fluid concept built upon various myths, images, and competing social lifestyles.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Thomas Andreaus (Autor:in), 2004, Nick Hornby’s "About a Boy" and Kazuo Ishiguro’s "The Remains of the Day", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/149861
