The declaration of independence was signed in 1776 and by freeing the American colonies from the British rule it marked an important step in the relationship between England and America. Many settlers left England in search of religious freedom and to start a society with new rules and values. In both "Downton Abbey" and "The Remains of the Day" the rules and values embodied by the American characters are way more modern than the English ones.
To truly understand the differences between English and American characters one first has to ask: what exactly is "Englishness" and how do the American characters show contrast to that? Doyle mentions "a national sense of ancestry, tradition and universal 'free' citizenship" in "English & Englishness" and thus takes up one of the most important aspects: tradition. The American characters in "Downton Abbey" do not value tradition as much as the English ones do. A reason for that may be the fact that America does not have as much of a country’s history as England does. The aristocracy and class system in England may be a "national disunity" but it is nevertheless an aspect that has strongly shaped the English society. This is clearly shown in "Downton Abbey" where the main characters are consequently divided into 'masters' and 'servants'. Even though there seems to be a serving class under the wealthy Americans, too, they have no aristocracy in America.
A point that gets more attention than the aristocracy in "The Remains of the Day" is the importance of dignity. The protagonist Stevens dedicates the majority of his thoughts to the question of a good butler. In his mind this question is strongly linked with a feeling of dignity and the question of how one should behave. It gets obvious that in his opinion his former employer Lord Darlington knew how to behave while the American gentleman Mr. Farraday often brings "bewilderment, not to say shock" about. A similar opinion is held by the Dowager Countess Lady Grantham. She is openly judging Martha Levinson’s manners and behaviour. Boyle also mentions the importance of a country’s own language and culture and the education of it. Another aspect is the love of one’s country and landscape that is stressed by Stevens during the beginning of his journey.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. History and Tradition
2.1. The Importance of the English Aristocracy
2.2. What is English dignity?
3. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
The academic work explores the cultural and social divergence between English and American characters as depicted in the television series "Downton Abbey" and the novel "The Remains of the Day." It aims to analyze how concepts of tradition, the aristocracy, and dignity define "Englishness" in contrast to the progressive and modern values typically associated with American figures in these narratives.
- The role of history, heritage, and traditional values in shaping English identity.
- The impact of the class system and the English aristocracy on social structures.
- The perception of "dignity" as a fundamental attribute of the English temperament.
- Contrasting the modern, progressive American perspective with conservative English attitudes.
- Interpersonal dynamics and the clash of cultures within domestic and professional settings.
Excerpt from the Book
2. History and Tradition
One of the aspects in which England and America differ most is the importance of history, heritage, and traditions. As mentioned by R.Baena and C.Byker in “Dialects of Nostalgia: Downton Abbey and English identity” Englishness is often closely linked to nostalgia. Englishmen are likely to live in the past and idealize it.
Most English characters in the series as well as in the novel share the belief that the English way of living is always the old way, bound to tradition and things done what they call “properly”. The American way of life is new, progressive and lined with modern inventions and technologies. Martha Levinson, Cora Crawley’s mother and the best contrast to the Dowager Countess one could have thought of, mentions it during her very first appearance in the show. She arrives in a modern car and promptly voices that “It seems so strange to think of the English embracing change.” (DA, S3E1).
The most conservative English figures in Downton Abbey and therefore probably most un-American ones are presumably Lord Grantham, the Dowager Countess Lady Violet Crawley and Carson the butler. While the Dowager Countess is best at accepting changes, she could still be called the “upholder of tradition” (Nostalgia, p. 264). Although she is sceptical towards innovations and especially foreigners she does, in contrast to Robert, always put family and especially the girls over tradition and history. In the first season, she fights for Mary’s rights in the inheritance of the estate. Both men are eager to keep the status quo. Stevens, the butler in Ishiguro’s “The Remains of the day”, resists change as much as Carson and Lord Grantham. He, too, is rather nostalgic as he always speaks of “Lord Darlington’s days” (Ishiguro, 18) when the house was under proper rule and everything was better according to his point of view. When Mr. Farraday arrives at Darlington Hall everything quickly starts to change for Stevens.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction establishes the historical and cultural context for comparing English and American values, setting the stage for an analysis of tradition and dignity.
2. History and Tradition: This chapter examines the reliance on heritage and conservative structures in England compared to the American penchant for progress and modern change.
2.1. The Importance of the English Aristocracy: This section details how class structures and inherited titles define personal and societal identities, often creating friction with Americans who lack an aristocratic background.
2.2. What is English dignity?: This chapter investigates the concept of emotional restraint and proper behavior as core elements of the English national character.
3. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the findings, confirming that both works use American characters as a foil to highlight the distinct and often rigid nature of traditional English identity.
Keywords
Englishness, Downton Abbey, The Remains of the Day, Aristocracy, Tradition, History, Dignity, Class System, Nostalgia, Emotional Restraint, Cultural Contrast, Inheritance, Identity, Modernity, Social Conduct
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines the representation and contrasting of English and American characters within the context of two specific works: the TV series "Downton Abbey" and the novel "The Remains of the Day."
What are the primary thematic fields?
The central themes include the significance of tradition, the influence of the aristocracy, the importance of historical continuity, and the distinct cultural definition of "dignity."
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine how the "Englishness" of the characters is highlighted when they are placed in opposition to American characters, who represent more modern and progressive viewpoints.
Which scientific method is applied?
The work utilizes a comparative textual and cultural analysis, drawing on secondary academic sources regarding heritage and nostalgia to evaluate the primary narratives.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body focuses on the importance of history, the societal role of the aristocracy, the rigid class system, and the perception of dignity and emotional restraint among the English characters.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include Englishness, aristocracy, tradition, dignity, social class, cultural contrast, and modernity.
How does the author define the "English" approach to history?
The author argues that English characters generally view their way of living as bound to the past, prioritizing "proper" behavior and traditional inheritance over the modern, progressive innovations favored by Americans.
Why is the concept of "dignity" critical in "The Remains of the Day"?
Dignity is portrayed as a professional and personal virtue for the butler Stevens; it requires the total suppression of emotion and the maintenance of a mask of professional demeanor, which he believes is a uniquely English trait.
What role does the American character play in the conflict of the stories?
Americans act as a catalyst for change or a point of contrast, often questioning or ignoring the rigid traditions that the English characters hold dear, thereby exposing the outdated nature of those values.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Ina Noschitzka (Autor:in), 2017, The Representation of English and American Characters in Downton Abbey and The Remains of the Day, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/417377
