In Kazuo Ishiguro´s The Remains of the Day the first person narrator Stevens, a butler on the verge of retirement, undertakes a journey to meet – for what is likely the last time in their lives – his former coworker and love interest Miss Kenton. At the same time, he tries to come to terms with his past by reexamining his memories of his life at Darlington Hall, the choices he made and the values he had. Throughout his account it becomes increasingly obvious that Stevens´s narration cannot be trusted completely. His comments on, and interpretation of, past events in his life and his portrayal of himself and others in his tale expose him as an unreliable narrator. However, his attempts to deceive himself and others are possibly the most interesting and telltale aspect of the narrative. After all, “the use of an unreliable narrator draws attention to a character´s psychology.” Paradoxically, the narrator reveals most about himself and his life when he is trying to obscure the truth.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Detecting Unreliable Narration in The Remains of the Day
3. Stevens´s “Language of Self-Deception”
3.1 “Greatness”
3.2 “Dignity”
3.3 “Professionalism”
4. Steven´s Portrayal of other Characters and his Relationships to Them
4.1 Stevens ´s Father
4.2 Lord Darlington
4.3 Miss Kenton
5. Stevens´s Portrayal of Himself
6. Conclusion
Research Objective and Core Themes
This study explores the narrative mechanisms of Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel "The Remains of the Day," specifically focusing on the butler Stevens as an unreliable narrator. The central research question examines how Stevens employs self-deception and reinterprets abstract concepts to justify his life choices and past service to Lord Darlington, ultimately analyzing how these psychological defenses reveal his true motivations and disillusionment.
- The psychological phenomenon of the unreliable narrator in first-person discourse.
- The construction and redefinition of value-laden concepts such as "greatness," "dignity," and "professionalism."
- The impact of unquestioned loyalty on personal identity and emotional suppression.
- The discrepancy between private belief systems and the reality of external events.
- The role of memory and self-justification in coping with profound life regrets.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 “Greatness”
The first term of significance to Stevens is ‘greatness’, which he contemplates at the beginning of the novel, when he thinks about the English landscape: I will nevertheless hazard this with some confidence: the English landscape at its finest [. . .] possesses a quality that the landscapes of other nations, however more superficially dramatic, inevitably fail to possess. It is, I believe, a quality that will mark out the English landscape to any objective observer as the most deeply satisfying in the world, and this quality is probably best summed up by the term ‘greatness’. [. . . .] what precisely is this ’greatness ‘ [. . .] I would say that it is the very lack of obvious drama or spectacle that sets the beauty of our land apart.13
Stevens´s definition of this “quality” seems almost completely opposite to what is commonly considered ‘great’. An expression which is normally a synonym to words like ‘impressive’ or ‘spectacular’ is suddenly used to describe the reverse. Stevens does not care for what he calls “obvious drama or spectacle” and thus he simply reinterprets the meaning of the word in a way that suits him and his purpose.14 This is a strategy he uses on several similar abstract concepts throughout the novel. The reason for his preoccupation with ‘greatness’ becomes clear, when Stevens tries to apply the term to his profession. He wonders about the definition of “a ‘great’ butler”15and comes to the conclusion that it must be connected to the very same “sense of restraint”16 he admired in the English landscape. This “restraint” will play an important part in his definition of the second quality he aspires to, namely ‘dignity’.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the premise of the journey taken by Stevens and establishes the theoretical framework regarding his status as an unreliable narrator.
2. Detecting Unreliable Narration in The Remains of the Day: This section clarifies the methods by which a reader can identify unreliability in the novel, highlighting textual inconsistencies and the contradiction between words and actions.
3. Stevens´s “Language of Self-Deception”: This chapter analyzes how Stevens constructs a complex system of justification using redefined moral concepts to suppress truth and deceive himself.
3.1 “Greatness”: This section explores how Stevens reinterprets the concept of "greatness" to emphasize restraint over dramatic impact, applying it to both landscape and his professional identity.
3.2 “Dignity”: This chapter examines Stevens's interpretation of dignity as the complete suppression of emotion, illustrating the absurdity of this definition through his professional conduct.
3.3 “Professionalism”: This section discusses professionalism as a defense mechanism utilized by Stevens to ignore personal interests and the messy realities of life.
4. Steven´s Portrayal of other Characters and his Relationships to Them: This chapter analyzes how Stevens views his father, employer, and coworker to maintain his own self-delusion.
4.1 Stevens ´s Father: This section investigates how Stevens idolizes his father, using him as a source for his own distorted sense of dignity.
4.2 Lord Darlington: This section explores Stevens's protective, biased view of his former employer as a way to validate the sacrifices made during his career.
4.3 Miss Kenton: This section analyzes the complex relationship between Stevens and Miss Kenton, noting how he uses professionalism to avoid acknowledging his repressed feelings.
5. Stevens´s Portrayal of Himself: This chapter reveals that Stevens's lack of emotional insight forces him to rely on others' observations to understand his own state of mind.
6. Conclusion: This final chapter synthesizes the findings, concluding that Stevens's narrative is a tragic attempt to preserve a meaningful self-image in the face of irreversible life regrets.
Keywords
Unreliable narration, Kazuo Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day, self-deception, dignity, professionalism, Butler, identity, loyalty, memory, emotional suppression, disillusionment, narrative theory, character analysis, repression.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work focuses on the psychological landscape of Stevens, the narrator, and explores how he uses self-deception to construct a coherent but unreliable account of his life as a butler.
What are the central themes examined in the text?
The central themes include the nature of professional duty, the repression of personal emotions, the subjective definition of moral values, and the impact of long-term disillusionment.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine how Stevens presents his values and relationships, and to analyze the reader's ability to discern the truth behind his narrative facade.
What scientific or analytical method is applied?
The text employs a literary analysis approach, utilizing concepts from narrative theory to deconstruct the butler's discourse and psychological state.
What does the main body of the work address?
The main body systematically analyzes key concepts like "greatness" and "dignity," and evaluates Stevens’s portrayal of his father, Lord Darlington, and Miss Kenton to identify his personal delusions.
Which keywords best characterize this study?
Key terms include unreliable narration, self-deception, professional dignity, emotional repression, and identity construction within the context of Ishiguro’s novel.
How does Stevens use the concept of dignity to protect himself?
Stevens redefines dignity as the total suppression of emotion, which allows him to dismiss personal disappointments and social consequences as "professional" necessity.
Why does Stevens feel compelled to lie about his life at the end?
He does not necessarily intend to lie, but he is forced to maintain his narrative to avoid the devastating realization that his life of service was a wasted sacrifice.
- Quote paper
- Lynn Bay (Author), 2009, "A great butler": the unreliable narrator in Kazuo Ishiguro's "The Remains of the Day", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/196781
