Next, as we’re Servants, Masters at our Hands
Expect Obedience to all just Commands;
[…] Purchas’d by annual Wages, Cloaths and Meat,
Theirs is our Time, our Hands, our Head, our Feet:
We think, design and act at their Command,
And, as their Pleasure varies, walk or stand […].’1
This stanza of the poem ‘Servitude’, written by footman Robert Dodsley in 1728 incorporates the common image of the ideal servant at that time – and this may seem rather shocking to a reader at the beginning of the 21st century. Nowadays, handing over such a large part of an individual’s personal freedom to a ‘master’ seems very problematic or even unthinkable. Especially to let one’s ‘Head’ be ‘purchas’d’ and to think at another person’s ‘Command’, that is to give up one’s freedom of thought, contradicts basic human rights, which are highly valued in today’s society. It becomes clear that servitude implies more than just dusting portraits, polishing silver and setting tables - namely restrictions of individual rights, of personal life and consequently of the servant’s sense of self. This topic has recently not only been discussed within historical and sociological research but also treated in film and literature, examples being Robert Altman’s Gosford Park, Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood, Marianne Frederiksson’s Hannah’s Daughter and Margaret Foster’s Lady’s Maid.
The butler Stevens is the protagonist in Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel The Remains of the Day. He tells about his service in a distinguished English manor, Darlington Hall, during the first half of the 20th century. Stevens’s life in servitude is characterised by the complete lack of a personal realm. By examining the character Stevens, I want to determine which effects this incompatibility of self and service has on the individual. To begin with, I will briefly sketch the image of the ideal servant, as described by Stevens. By explaining the core values he is expected to incorporate I aim at determining where this incompatibility stems from in the first place. Following, the consequences this concept of domestic service has on the servant’s social relationships (both to his fellow servants, family, friends and to his master) will be analysed. Finally, I want to establish what impact it has on the servant himself, his sense of self and his personal identity.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Core Values of Servitude
3. Social Relationships
3.1 Friendships and Family Relationships
3.2 Master-Servant-Relationship
4. The Servant’s Sense of Self
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Themes
This academic paper explores the conflict between personal identity and the professional demands of servitude as depicted in Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel The Remains of the Day. It investigates how the total absorption of service-oriented values—such as dignity, loyalty, and obedience—leads to the erosion of the protagonist's private life and sense of self.
- The influence of internalized professional values on individual autonomy.
- The impact of servitude on interpersonal relationships and emotional expression.
- The concept of "reflected glory" and its role in defining servant identity.
- The tension between professional roles and human needs for private space and identity.
- A comparative reflection on self-suppression in the context of servant literature.
Excerpt from the Book
The Servant’s Sense of Self
Stevens’s over-internalisation of the (exaggerated) values of his profession makes him unable to hold up an amicable, warm relationship with others. Constant restraint, emotional repression and self-control seriously affect essential parts of his personal life and most importantly his sense of self.
Stevens lacks time for himself, but not because it is not granted by his master, but because he does not take it. He likes to think that he even devotes his leisure time to professional tasks, for example when he reads a romance novel because, as he says, ‘it was an extremely efficient way to maintain and develop one’s command of the English language’ (RD, p.176). According to him, the regular cocoa meetings with Miss Kenton have an ‘essentially professional character’ (RD, p.165) as well. Stevens never takes holidays to visit his family and it never occurs to him that there are alternatives to his employment that would provide him with more time of his own.
Additionally, Stevens lacks, or rather renounces voluntarily, a private space. His life is restricted to the relatively small space of the manor, which is not a private but a professional realm. Within Darlington Hall, he is assigned a pantry only for himself, but instead of personalising this room (for example with the flowers Miss Kenton offers him), he leaves it completely bare and uses it almost exclusively for professional purposes. He sees it as ‘a crucial office, the heart of the house’s operations, not unlike a general’s headquarters during a battle’ (RD, p.173).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the historical and literary context of servitude, presenting the research aim to examine how the protagonist Stevens experiences the incompatibility of his professional identity and personal humanity.
2. Core Values of Servitude: This chapter analyzes the key expectations placed upon a servant, focusing on professionalism, dignity, the concept of "reflected glory," and the extreme degree of obedience and loyalty expected by employers.
3. Social Relationships: This chapter explores how the rigid demands of professional service isolate the protagonist, preventing meaningful friendships, familial connections, and intimate relationships, specifically regarding his interactions with Miss Kenton and his father.
3.1 Friendships and Family Relationships: This section details the professional distance Stevens maintains from other servants and his emotional detachment from his own family members, framing these as necessary components of his role as an ideal servant.
3.2 Master-Servant-Relationship: This section examines the dynamic between Stevens and Lord Darlington, highlighting how the servant’s uncritical adoption of his master's beliefs leads to his own loss of independence and self-worth.
4. The Servant’s Sense of Self: This chapter investigates how the voluntary renunciation of private time and space leads to a metaphorical and psychological loss of self, effectively causing the protagonist to disappear behind the "mask" of his profession.
5. Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes that Ishiguro portrays a character who restricts himself through internalized ideals, arguing that the true tragedy lies in an individual's failure to cultivate a life beyond their career.
Keywords
Servitude, Kazuo Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day, Butler, Professionalism, Dignity, Reflected Glory, Self-effacement, Identity, Social Relationships, Personal Freedom, Emotional Repression, Loyalty, Master-Servant-Relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
This paper focuses on the incompatibility between the life of a professional servant and the development of a personal identity, specifically analyzing the butler Stevens from Kazuo Ishiguro's novel.
What are the main thematic pillars discussed?
The work examines core values like dignity and loyalty, the resulting isolation in social and family relationships, and the psychological impact of self-effacement.
What is the research goal?
The aim is to determine the effects of adopting an extreme professional persona on an individual's personal life and sense of identity.
Which methodology is applied?
The paper uses a literary analysis approach, examining textual evidence from the novel in conjunction with historical and sociological perspectives on domestic service.
What is the core argument of the main chapters?
The main chapters argue that the protagonist's strict adherence to his duties results in the abandonment of his private life, leading to emotional emptiness.
Which keywords summarize the study?
Key terms include servitude, identity, professional dignity, self-effacement, and reflected glory.
How does the author interpret the relationship between Stevens and Lord Darlington?
The author argues that their relationship is characterized by mutual respect but deep emotional distance, with Stevens uncritically adopting the master's values to his own detriment.
What is the significance of the "mask" metaphor mentioned in the study?
The mask represents the servant's professional exterior, which, in Stevens's case, eventually becomes his entire identity, leaving no independent self underneath.
- Quote paper
- Teresa Hochmuth (Author), 2003, The incompatibility of self and service as presented in Kazuo Ishiguro's 'The Remains of the Day', Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/34087
