This paper sets out to analyze Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day (1989) with a particular focus on the novel’s protagonist as a representation of typical English stereotypes. The following paper is divided into five chapters. After a brief introduction in chapter 1, an introductory overview of Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel follows in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 tries to define the term Englishness as a national identity. Chapter 4 comprises a close reading analysis of the two major motifs in The Remains of the Day. In the fifth chapter, the author draws a comparison between the decline of Darlington Hall with the decline of the British Empire. He tries to emphasize in how far Thatcher’s policy is offended by Ishiguro’s novel. Chapter 6 will present a conclusion on the findings from the topics covered in this paper and gives a prospect on further research questions
Margaret Thatcher’s reordering of the duties and responsibilities of the state, the privatization of state-owned industries, and the restrictions in the welfare policy were unique and caused a sensation in the European Community. In her political agenda, the term ‘British Identity’ was highlighted, especially in relation to her foreign policy campaigns, like the Falkland’s War or her concerns about the European Community.
In his novel The Remains of the Day, Kazuo Ishiguro establishes a set of typical English stereotypes. Those stereotypes cover a sense of nostalgia, which is, according to Su, “… essential in forming a national identity”. The nostalgia in the novel is established around the protagonist Stevens, who is obliged with the terms of dignity and Englishness. Margaret Thatcher’s call for a return to ‘Victorian values’ is dedicated to such a nostalgia. Her aim was to redefine a national idea of Englishness. This redefinition of the Englishness and the way nostalgia is used in creating an idealized national identity is what Ishiguro worries about. In The Remains of the Day, those values of the past are mirrored through Stevens and Darlington Hall in a degenerative condition, both Stevens’ journey and the estate can be taken as a metaphor of Ishiguro’s worries about Thatcher’s nostalgia policy. The question that therefore arises is “In how far does Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel The Remains of the Day function as a metaphorical critique to Thatcher’s nostalgia policy?”
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1. Object of Investigation and Research Question
1.2. Purpose and Structure
2. Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day– Overview
3. Englishness a ‘National Identity’
4. Motifs: Englishness and dignity
4.1. How does Stevens implement an ‘image of Englishness’?
4.2. Stevens’ preoccupation with ‘dignity’
5. The Heritage in The Remains of the Day
5.1. The decline of the nostalgic estate
5.2. Ishiguro and Thatcher – The politics of decline
6. Conclusion
Research Objective and Core Themes
This paper examines Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel The Remains of the Day to determine if the work functions as a metaphorical critique of Margaret Thatcher’s political emphasis on nostalgia and "Victorian values." By analyzing the protagonist's internal struggle with dignity and Englishness, the research explores how the novel deconstructs idealized national myths to challenge political agendas that rely on an uncritical glorification of the past.
- The role of nostalgia in shaping national identity.
- The deconstruction of the "English gentleman" and butler stereotypes.
- The metaphorical significance of the decaying country house.
- A critical comparison of Ishiguro’s literary themes and Thatcher’s political rhetoric.
- The protagonist Stevens as a symbol for uncritical political faith.
Excerpt from the Book
4.2. Stevens’ preoccupation with ‘dignity’
Stevens seems to be preoccupied with the notion of dignity and being a great butler, because, throughout the novel, he is obsessed in finding a definition of dignity and what a perfect butler may is, in order to clarify his “professional values” (TROTD 35). Because for him those terms are all what his life is about. Therefore, Stevens’ problem is that he identifies himself so completely with his profession that without dignity he would be nothing.
Stevens’ own opinion is, “…that this dignity was something one possessed or did not by a fluke of nature” (ibid.). So, this can be seen as a biological determinism (Pizer 9), because it can be assumed that Stevens’ father inherited his dignity to Stevens. This assumption can be proved, if you analyze Stevens’ opinion of his father in a more detailed way. Stevens supposes that his “…father was indeed the embodiment of dignity” (TROTD 34); and sees his father, who demonstrates a “… ‘dignity in keeping with his position’ …” (35) when Mr. Charles praised his father or when the drunken gentlemen apologized to his father, as an example of a perfect butler.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the research question regarding the novel as a critique of Thatcherism and establishes the methodology and structure of the paper.
2. Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day– Overview: This section provides a summary of the novel’s plot, focusing on Stevens’ journey and his reflections on the past through flashbacks.
3. Englishness a ‘National Identity’: This chapter explores the theoretical framework of national identity, Englishness, and the role of selective memory in constructing historical myths.
4. Motifs: Englishness and dignity: This analysis focuses on how Stevens uses the concepts of professional dignity and stereotypes of Englishness to define his identity and justify his life choices.
5. The Heritage in The Remains of the Day: This chapter connects the decline of Darlington Hall to the decay of the British Empire and provides a direct critique of Thatcher’s nostalgic political agenda.
6. Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the findings, confirming that the novel serves as a metaphorical critique against the blind trust in political authority and nostalgic manipulation.
Keywords
The Remains of the Day, Kazuo Ishiguro, Margaret Thatcher, Nostalgia, Englishness, National Identity, Dignity, Darlington Hall, Butler, Victorian Values, British Empire, Political Critique, Literary Analysis, Post-war England, Stereotypes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines whether Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel The Remains of the Day serves as a metaphorical critique of Margaret Thatcher’s political efforts to promote a nostalgic view of British national identity.
What central themes are explored in the text?
The primary themes include the construction of national identity, the social function of nostalgia, the concept of "dignity," and the symbolic decline of the British country house.
What is the primary research question?
The study asks to what extent the novel functions as a metaphorical critique of Thatcher’s nostalgia policy, specifically the call for a return to "Victorian values."
Which scientific methodology does the paper utilize?
The paper uses literary analysis, focusing on close reading of the text and comparing thematic motifs in the novel with contemporary political theory and historical context regarding Thatcherism.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
The main body covers the definition of Englishness, the analysis of the motifs of dignity and stereotypes, the symbolic decline of the estate, and a comparative study of the novel against Thatcher's political rhetoric.
Which keywords characterize this study?
Key terms include nostalgia, Englishness, dignity, national identity, Thatcherism, and the estate novel tradition.
How does Stevens' professional identity relate to Thatcher’s politics?
Stevens’ rigid adherence to his role as a butler, which involves suppressing his own humanity, is analyzed as a metaphor for the blind obedience and uncritical support of political power structures that Thatcher encouraged.
What is the significance of the "Pier of Weymouth" in the conclusion?
The Pier of Weymouth represents the physical and symbolic departure from the estate, marking Stevens' realization that his reliance on Lord Darlington’s judgment—and by extension, the reliance on an outdated nostalgic past—was a failure.
Does the author conclude that Ishiguro is indeed criticizing Thatcher?
Yes, the author concludes that the novel serves as a "flak" against Thatcher's policy, specifically rejecting the invention of a glorious past for political gain.
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- Sven Uhle (Autor:in), 2016, The Remains of Thatcher. Is Kazuo Ishiguro’s "The Remains of the Day" a metaphorical critique to Thatcher’s nostalgia policy?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/436529
